Year 13 Sports Science Trip to the University of Kent

On Monday, 1st December, Year 13 A Level PE students visited the University of Kent’s state-of-the-art Sports Science Laboratories to support their entry into the upcoming CASES National Poster Competition. The visit provided students with valuable hands-on experience across three key disciplines: sports psychology, performance analysis, and exercise physiology.

Sports Psychology
In the sports psychology suite, students took part in a series of applied activities exploring how mental factors influence athletic performance. 

Performance Analysis
The group then moved to the performance analysis labs, where they worked with professional motion-tracking and video-analysis systems. Students captured live movement data, broke down technical performance, and explored how analysts use objective feedback to enhance skill development. This allowed them to apply concepts from their A Level course to real performance scenarios.

Exercise Physiology
In the physiology laboratories, students completed practical investigations on VO₂ max testing demonstrations, lactate sampling, and biomechanical assessments. They learned how physiological measurements are collected and interpreted to assess fitness, fatigue, and training adaptation. 

Outcome and Next Steps
The visit offered a unique opportunity for students to gather scientific data and inspiration for their submissions to the CASES national poster competition. By engaging directly with university-level research methods, they strengthened both their understanding of sports science and the quality of evidence they can present in their final posters.