New for 2026 - BTEC Sport!

We were delighted to unveil a new course for 2026 at our Sixth Form Open Evening this week - BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Sport. To find out more about this course, please read our course guide information below: 

Giving athletes the platform for success 

New for 2026, this course forms part of our Elite Sporting Pathway and has been introduced to allow our wealth of local athletes the benefit of being taught by subject experts in an environment with a strong sporting legacy and commitment to excellence. 

COURSE PATHWAYS
At The Hinckley Sixth Form, the BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Sport can be studied in two ways: 

Extended Diploma 
This is equivalent to studying 3 A Levels, allowing students to solely focus on participation in our Elite Sporting Pathway. Students on this pathway will not study any additional Level 3 courses alongside their BTEC Level 3 National Diploma.   

or 

Double Award 
The double award is best suited to students who would like to combine their passion for sport alongside broadening their knowledge with a supplementary Level 3 course. 
This course is equivalent to 2 A Levels, and is a blended offer allowing students to study one further Level 3 qualification, such as one of our A Level subjects. 

Due to its foundation of heavily practical units, BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Sport is well suited to learners who are passionate about excelling in practical sport as part of their studies, alongside written elements. The course is open to students from any sporting background, including netball, football, basketball, and rugby. 

COURSE CONTENT 
During this course you will undertake mandatory units, and some optional units which will be based around practical activity which will allow you to choose a specific specialist area in which you wish to develop, or continue on a broad programme. 

Topics you will study on this course include: 
• Anatomy and Physiology 
• Fitness Training and Programming for Health, Sport and Well-being (practical and written)
• Professional Development in the Sports Industry 
• Sports Leadership (practical and written)
• Investigating Business in the Sport and Active Leisure Industry 
• Skill Acquisition in Sport
• Coaching for Performance (practical and written
• Sport Event Organisation

WIDER OPPORTUNITIES     
In addition to our strong local sporting links with Hinckley Rugby Football Club, The Futures Trust has well established links with Coventry Football Partnership: Sky Blues in the Community and Coventry Rugby Club. 

As a proud member of The Futures Trust, The Hinckley Sixth Form students benefit from a wide variety of competitive sporting enrichment, with fixtures against other trust sixth forms, as well as local providers in a variety of sports. 

Students studying BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Sport will have the opportunity to visit Loughborough University, where they will have the chance to experience a day in one of the UK’s leading higher education institutions. World renowned as a centre of sporting and academic excellence, students are given the opportunity to view elite sporting facilities, and gain an insight into university life and what it means to be a university student. 

TRANSFERABLE SKILLS
This course will allow you to practice developing important employability skills such as:
• Cognitive and Problem-Solving Skills: critical thinking, applying expert and creative solutions to problems, use systems and technology 
• Intrapersonal Skills: self-management, adaptability and resilience, self-monitoring and development
• Interpersonal Skills: communicating, working collaboratively, negotiating and influencing, self-presentation

PROGRESSION OPPORTUNITIES
As well as supporting students who aspire to build careers as professional athletes, after successfully completing the BTEC sport course, students will be able to progress on to higher education on full degree single or combined courses, for example: 
• BA (Hons) in Sports Development and Management 
• BSc (Hons) in Sports Management / Coaching 
• BSc (Hons) Sports Business Management 
• BSc (Hons) Sport and Leisure Management 
• BSc (Hons) Sports Science (Outdoor Activities) 
• BSc (Hons) in Exercise, Health and Fitness 

Exam Board: Pearson 
Assessment: 

• Extended Diploma: Four externally accessed exams over the two years and around 70% internally assessed coursework. 
• Double Award: Three externally accessed exams over the two years and around 70% internally assessed coursework.  

Subject Entry: General Hinckley Sixth Form entry requirements of five GCSE passes at grades 5 to 9, including English and Maths. Students who do not meet entry requirements on Results Day will be invited to attend our Clearing Clinic, as they may still be suitable to study the BTEC National Diploma.

When applying to study the Extended Diploma here at The Hinckley Sixth Form, please do not select any other courses on your online application form. When applying for the Double Award here at The Hinckley Sixth Form, please select one additional course to study alongside your BTEC National Diploma in Sport.   

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(All information was correct at the time of printing. The Hinckley Sixth Form reserves the right to close courses where low levels of interest mean the course is not viable.)