Course Content
Module One: The Historical Context of Sport and Physical Activity in Schools (25 Credits)
This module will guide students to acquire and demonstrate knowledge of the complex social, historical and political forces which shaped the development of sport in schools from the nineteenth century until the present day. They will develop an understanding of the significant impact that games and physical activities have exerted on educational philosophy and evaluate the consequences of developments in school sport for the wider society. Students will gain a better understanding of the landscape and context of school sport and identify how this has influenced their own environment. They will apply this knowledge to inform their own vision for the future and the rationale for the programme they will lead.
Module Two: Contemporary Issues in School Sport and Exercise (25 credits)
This module will enable students to understand the current landscape of school sport within the sector and how it impacts their own context. It will consider how programmes have been shaped by recent developments and shifting priorities. This will involve an analysis of relevant research and educational initiatives. Students will consider trends such as facility development, changing workforce, programme variety and the democratisation of opportunity. This will include the role of the leader in identifying the need for change and planning for the future. The tension between performance and participation, and the balance between team games and physical wellbeing, will be examined within the context of the students’ own schools. The module will conclude with a critical analysis and evaluation of current provision, including an assessment of programme effectiveness and appropriateness. There will be an introduction to critical reflection, to enable students to establish a research position, and make judgements in relation to literature and data collection.
Module Three: Leadership and Management in School Sport (30 Credits)
This module will enable students to better understand leadership and management, the difference between them and the impact of both on their context. It will introduce theories of leadership, the place of the Director of Sport as a school leader and consider the strategic functions of the position. Students will be encouraged to formulate and communicate a clear vision for the success criteria of physical activity in schools, and the management structures necessary to deliver these. This will include mechanisms for raising standards and dealing with underperformance. There will be a focus on communicating vision, engaging colleagues and achieving quality control. Students will analyse the systems and processes used in their own and other schools and evaluate their effectiveness in achieving consistent high-quality experiences for pupils. Students will gain an understanding of how to construct their research framework.
Module Four: Building a Positive Culture of Sport and Physical Activity (40 credits)
This module will help students understand different types of organisational culture, and the impact of these on the way pupils, teachers and parents behave in the context of sport and physical activity. Students will examine case studies of successful cultures and evaluate their own schools within these contexts. The course will consider the role of the Director of Sport as a cultural architect and leader: it will then examine the process of cultural change necessary to achieve a positive sport and exercise environment within schools. Case studies of successful leadership initiatives and cultural developments will be considered. The module will present a framework of research paradigms and link to different methodologies. It will enable students to apply knowledge and understanding from previous modules to conclude with a work-based development project. They will then present this to their peers and tutors.
Module Five: Education Research Dissertation (60 credits)
This is a compulsory module for the MA in Education (Leading Sport in Schools). The final dissertation will be 12,000 – 15,000 words. Students will be guided to develop an in-depth knowledge and understanding of a particular area of interest in the context of educational research. Students will apply knowledge of the research process itself and the ability to evaluate other projects in a specific field. They will then be guided to devise and conduct their own research project of appropriate scale. The topic of this enquiry will be relevant to issues in the student’s own environment, and will enable them to critically evaluate existing practice, and to present plans for specific programme improvements.
Assessments: Each module will be assessed by a written assignment of between 5,000 and 7,000 words, with the final dissertation being 12,000-15,000 words.
Course Delivery
This course is delivered online and is designed to be taken part-time, alongside a role in a school or educational organisation.
All aspects of the course will be delivered online so that students can access them from wherever they are in the world.
You will be guided through each stage of the course:
- An induction session will introduce you to how the course will run.
- Every Master's student is allocated a supervisor to support your learning.
- You will have access to regular online study sessions throughout the course.
- Our online learning platform, MOODLE, will provide easy access to all resources needed for successful completion of the course.
- You will be given a week by week guide which will indicate what work is expected that week. This will either be:
- a recorded film to watch
- a reading
- a podcast with accompanying literature
- independent study towards a module
- a Twilight session which will be live, but recorded and shared on Moodle.
It is important to understand that you, as a Master’s student, will be expected to work independently and you are expected to fully engage with the guidance provided to complete the required modules.
As part of the course, students will complete:
- A 5,000 – 7,000-word written assignment at the end of each module and a presentation (one module only).
- A final dissertation (12,000 – 15,000 words).
Entry Requirements
All applicants are required to have a bachelor’s degree and to be currently working at a school.
You will also need to have IELTS 6.5 (with 6.0 or above in each component) or equivalent English level qualification. To see what is accepted by the University, visit our FAQ page on Language Requirements.
Fees
Registration Fee: £300 (non-refundable)
Tuition Fee: To be announced
Fees are invoiced for in September, at the beginning of the course, and can be paid in termly installments or in one lump sum. Termly installments can be arranged directly with the Finance department upon receipt of the invoice.
All fees are charged directly by the University of Buckingham, BISE will not add any additional charges for our services.
How To Apply
Click Apply Now below to apply online through Buckingham International School of Education. We will support you to complete your application before submitting it directly to the University of Buckingham.
If you have any queries, click Ask a Question and our admissions team members will endeavour to reply to your enquiry within 24 hours.
Our admissions staff are based in Mainland China and Hong Kong and our hours of business are 10am to 7pm (GMT+7), Mon-Fri.
Admissions for September 2026 intake will close on 31 July 2026.