LEISURE STUDIES

What is the course about?

The Leisure industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the UK and Europe – if you want to be part of it, then this is a stepping stone to fulfilling your ambitions.

Course Content

A/S – The leisure industry – The ever changing face of the business.

A/S – Working Practices in Leisure – Marketing and Management Systems.

A/S – The Leisure Customer – The importance of ‘Customer Service’.

A2 – Leisure in Action – Set up your own Leisure Business.

A2 – Employment in Leisure – Recruitment, employment and motivation.

A2 – Current Issues in Leisure – Factors influencing the industry.

What will I learn?

AS Unit 1 : The Leisure Industry today

The leisure industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the UK and Europe, and affects everyone's life. This unit provides an over-arching understanding of the dynamic UK and European leisure industry.

Unit topics

1 The range, scale and importance of the leisure industry in the UK and Europe.

2 Commercial and non-commercial sectors of the industry.

3 Customers of the leisure industry.

4 Current developments in the leisure industry.

Internally Assessed

AS Unit 2 : Working Practices in Leisure

The leisure industry, as with all industries, whether large or small, must provide a safe environment for staff and customers. It is also essential for staff to follow set procedures and use appropriate technology in order to maintain records, accounts and membership details.

Unit topics

1 Safe working practices.

2 Quality systems.

3 Business systems.

Externally Assessed

AS Unit 3 : The Leisure Customer

The ever-expanding leisure industry involves many organisations that provide similar products and services, and it is often the quality of customer service that provides the competitive edge for one organisation over another. The industry's customer service culture has changed in more recent years with customers now expecting higher standards from the services they receive. In a market where there is wide choice, providing excellent customer service is crucial in keeping existing customers and attracting new customers, and thus ensuring an organisation's commercial success.

Unit topics

1	The leisure customer.
2	Operational aspects related to the leisure customer.
3	Marketing activities and the leisure customer.
4	Dealing with leisure customers.

Internally Assessed

A2 Unit 4 : Leisure in Action

This unit gives students the opportunity to work as part of a team to plan, carry out and evaluate a leisure event.

There are many events students can choose, for example a sporting event or an exhibition; however it must be a leisure-related event.

Teachers should give students advice and ideas about what they and their team could do. This unit helps prepare students for employment in the leisure industry, offering them the opportunity to develop essential skills used in the workplace.

Students will produce a plan for their chosen event before it takes place and will also keep a log of their involvement in the event and will undertake an evaluation, to discover what went well and what could have worked better. Students will also offer recommendations for improvement.

Unit topics

1 Choice of event.

2 Feasibility of event.

3 Teamwork.

4 Carrying out the event.

5 Evaluating the event.

Internally Assessed

A2 Unit 5 : Employment in Leisure

This unit investigates the people who work in the leisure industry. It is about what students can expect, and what will be expected of them when working in the leisure industry.

This unit helps students prepare for experiencing some of the working practices that involve people. Such experiences can be positive such as rewarding staff for achieving their targets and others can be challenging, such as dealing effectively with a staff member who is to be made redundant, or terminating the contract of someone who has behaved improperly.

This unit helps students to prepare for these experiences, and develop the skills needed to work successfully in leisure.

Unit topics

1 Employment practices in leisure.

2 Recruitment and selection in leisure.

3 Employment issues in leisure.

4 Motivating staff in leisure.

5 Employment law.

Externally Assessed

A2 Unit 10 : Current Issues in Leisure

This unit allows students to develop their own interest in leisure through the identification of an issue, which will be the focus of a research project.

There are many aspects of the leisure industry that could be considered to be ‘issues’. Research will give students a significant amount of information about leisure and the part it plays in peoples lives.

Students will be able to reflect on the knowledge that they gain in other units — and other qualifications and studies — and to appreciate how diverse the leisure industry is.

Students’ chosen issues will be leisure orientated, but may allow them to extend their research into further, appropriate related areas, such as the sport and recreation industries.

This unit requires students to plan, carry out and present a research project, looking at a distinct area of, or issue in, leisure.

Unit topics

1 Issues in leisure.

2 Leisure research project.

Internally Assessed

When does the course start?

The course starts in September of each year.

How do I attend?

Who is the awarding Body?

Edexcel

How long does the course last?

2 years

What does this course lead on to?

Work within the leisure industry or further study at a higher level.

What subject entry requirements are there?

5 GCSEs at C and above.

How is the course assessed?

AS Unit 1 : The Leisure Industry today
You need to produce a portfolio of work, based on an investigation into the leisure industry today.

AS Unit 2 : Working practices in Leisure
You need to complete the external assessment requirements for this unit. This consists of a 90 minute exam of short and extended answer questions completed under controlled conditions.

AS Unit 3 : The Leisure Customer
You need to produce a portfolio of work, based on an investigation into one chosen leisure organisation.

A2 Unit Assessment:

A2 Unit 4 : Leisure in Action
You need to produce a portfolio based on your business plan for a leisure project and evidence of your involvement in carrying out and evaluating this project.

A2 Unit 5 : Employment in Leisure
You need to complete the external assessment requirements for this unit. This consists of a 2 hour test of short and extended questions.

A2 Unit 6 : Current Issues in Leisure
You need to produce a portfolio based on an in-depth investigation into one ongoing current issue within the leisure industry .

How much does the course

All students who are joining a full time course and are under 19 years of age on the 1st September as their course commences, will not be required to pay tuition fees.

Are there any exam fees?

Exam fees are not payable by 16-19 year olds sitting these units for the first time.
Mature students will be advised as to the exam fees when enrolling prior to the start of the course.

Re-sits of examinations will incur a change

M Birtwhistle or R Colbert

Tollbar B & E College
Station Road
New Waltham
agrimsby
N E Lincs
DN36 4RZ

Tel 01472 500505