Jon Varey, PE and Sport Subject Advisor

When you’re teaching Cambridge OCR PE and sport qualifications, you’re balancing a lot: planning lessons, supporting students, organising practical assessments and keeping on top of updates. In this blog, I’ll explain how you can make sure that the resources you use are accurate and aligned with the qualification. 

Across the Cambridge OCR PE team, we regularly speak with teachers at training sessions, through blogs, podcasts, cluster moderation events, and direct email support. A common theme teachers share with us is the desire for reassurance: “Am I using the right materials, and is my approach correct?” 

This is exactly why using approved Cambridge OCR resources and guidance from our subject team is so important.

Confidence that everything aligns with the specification

Reading and working directly from the Cambridge OCR specification is a message we highlight often in our subject blogs. It forms the backbone of effective teaching and accurate assessment preparation in our qualifications.

Cambridge OCR-approved resources are developed in line with the qualification’s learning objectives, assessment criteria, and NEA guidance. This means:

• content matches assessment expectations
• terminology is consistent with exam papers and marking guidance
• exemplars reflect real candidate performance 
• updates reflect current moderator guidance. 

Always using the spec removes the risk of relying on outdated or inaccurate resources that may be found online or from other sources.

Reducing common misconceptions

Misunderstandings around NEA tasks, filming requirements, or performance evidence are among the most frequent issues we support centres with. Our blogs highlight these challenges: for example, our blog on filming A Level EAPI assessments explains best practice and common mistakes to avoid. Using endorsed materials helps reduce: 

• incorrect interpretations of assessment criteria 
• issues with NEA authenticity 
• errors in evidence submission 
• misunderstandings that can affect student outcomes. 

When your resources are correct, your students’ learning is stronger and your moderation experience runs more smoothly.

Direct access to the team who shape the qualification

A real advantage of teaching Cambridge OCR qualifications is access to subject advisors who can support you throughout the academic year. As you can see on our Meet the Subject Team pages, many of us have long teaching careers and deep experience with assessment and curriculum design. 

We provide help with: 

• understanding the specification 
• planning NEA delivery
• preparing evidence for moderation
• navigating updates and best practice. 

If you’re ever unsure of anything, contact the subject team for accurate and up-to-date guidance.

Keeping up with changes and updates

From submission processes to NEA guidance, things evolve and we communicate these changes through blogs, newsletters, professional development sessions, and subject updates. Our blog platform regularly publishes PE-related posts that support centres with guidance, updates, and teaching strategies. Using approved resources located on Teach Cambridge ensures you always have the most recent information.

Sharing resources: the benefits and the boundaries

One of the strengths of the PE teaching community is the willingness to share ideas, drills, worksheets, and teaching approaches. Collaborating with colleagues across centres can: 

• enrich lesson delivery
• spark new ways of approaching difficult concepts
• build supportive professional networks
• raise overall confidence in teaching the qualification 

However, it’s important to be careful about what is shared. 

What you can safely share 

• lesson plans 
• teaching activities and drills
• revision strategies
• class worksheets 
• student-friendly specification breakdowns 
• non assessment specific exemplars 

These are all extremely valuable for teachers and perfectly safe to exchange. 

What you should not share 

• live or practice NEA assessment materials
• centre developed NEA tasks 
• model answers or high scoring candidate responses 
• examiner style comments or marking grids. 

I would strongly advise that you read the JCQ document on assessment materials and candidate work to further develop your understanding. 

Sharing these materials can cause a number of problems. 

Issues of malpractice 

Students may gain access to materials intended only for teachers or assessors. This can not only create an uneven playing field but also breach assessment security, which can result in students and/or teachers receiving a malpractice sanction. 

Risks of plagiarism 

If model answers or exemplar responses circulate widely, students can copy structure, content, or even wording which may lead to marks being withheld or investigations into authenticity. 

Problems with moderation 

Moderators need to see genuine student work. If multiple centres use the same model answers or structured templates, it raises concerns about over guidance or inauthentic performance evidence. 

This is why we strongly encourage centres to use OCR-endorsed resources and assessment materials, which are specifically created for valid teaching use and won’t compromise assessments or student authenticity. 

When you know your materials are correct and appropriate, you can focus your energy on supporting students, not worrying about assessment security or accuracy.

Final thoughts

Teaching PE and sport qualifications is hugely rewarding, but it can be complex if you aren’t prepared. Using approved resources from Cambridge OCR, seeking guidance from the subject advisor team, customer support, and being thoughtful about what is and isn’t appropriate to share between centres all help ensure high-quality, secure, and fair delivery. 

If you have questions, feedback, or would like to explore ideas together, please reach out, We’re always happy to help.

Stay connected

If you have any questions, you can email us at pe@ocr.org.uk or call us on 01223 553998. Do also sign up to our email newsletters for news, updates and information on your subject.

If you are considering teaching any of our qualifications, use our online form to let us know, so that we can help you with more information.

About the author

Jon joined Cambridge OCR as a PE and sport subject advisor in September 2021 having taught in a variety of secondary schools across the country for over 20 years, gaining a wealth of experience and subject knowledge. During this time, he has set up, delivered, and assessed a wide range of courses within physical education and sport. In his spare time, he is a keen runner and enthusiastic mountain biker, enjoys attending sporting and music events when possible and walking his two whippets.