Lecturer in Secondary PE ITT
I am a Lecturer in BSc (Hons) Physical Education with QTS and Associate Researcher in the Helen McArdle Nursing and Care Research Institute.
I completed my PhD in Sport and Exercise Sciences at the University in 2024 under the supervision of Dr Steven Anderson, Dr Sandra Leyland and Professor Jonathan Ling. My PhD explored the barriers to, and recommendations for, the implementation of Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU), a game-based pedagogy which was underpinned by Occupational Socialisation Theory. During the thesis, a Continuing Professional Development course was conducted to train and evaluate the success of PE teachers delivering a TGfU approach as part of a scheme of work.
I have gained teaching experience working in the West Yorkshire area as a swimming teacher, in schools and with the University of Huddersfield.
During the time I was completing my doctoral degree, I was awarded a PGCE in the Lifelong Learning Sector from the University of Huddersfield and achieved Fellow of the HEA.
My role in the Helen McArdle Nursing and Care Institute focuses on research into health inequalities for marginalised groups in our society and involves collaborations with the NHS, local authorities, charities and other academic institutions. Currently, I am conducting research into weight stigma and childhood obesity in collaboration with the University of Cambridge. In addition, I am leading a research project with the NHS North East and Cumbria and South Yorkshire ICBs exploring the perspectives of carers and people with learning disabilities experiencing the menopause. I have also been involved in a project exploring Weight Friendly Workplaces with Sunderland City Council and I have worked with a CIO in NE England to explore the lived experiences of people living with a disability. I have previously conducted an evaluation research project of a local provider working in the community to overcome health and wellbeing inequalities of older people.
I am committed to raising awareness of equality, diversity and inclusion, and as the Co-Chair of the Staff Enable Network, I have had the privilege of supporting and advancing disability and long-term health conditions practices at the University. I have been a guest speaker at events such as International Women’s Day and have presented my research at regional, national and international conferences.
Teaching and supervision
I have taught modules on a number of undergraduate and postgraduate courses. This is centred predominantly around the delivery of theoretical and practical PE-subject knowledge and equality, diversity and inclusion in schools.
I have experience of supervising dissertation students across several courses, and I am also a module leader and Personal Academic Tutor on BSc (Hons) Physical Education with QTS.
Research interests for potential research students
- Physical education primary and/or secondary
- Teacher education
- Sociology
- Obesity and weight stigma
- Critical pedagogies
- Health inequalities
- Equality, diversity and inclusion – healthcare, education and/or sport
Research
I am passionate about physical education and overcoming inequalities in healthcare, education and sport.
My current projects:
- Utilising the perspectives of disabled lecturers in HE with their student teacher trainees through the lens of critical pedagogies
- Using critical pedagogies to employ primary student teacher trainees as active agents in deconstructing their lack of confidence in teaching PE
- A collaborative study with the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens to examine the executive terms of the office of the past and present Chairs of the Executive Board for the Teaching Games for Understanding Special Interest Group (TGfU SIG)
- Co-authoring a journal article with the University of Porto and University of Castilla-La Mancha on the application of hybridised model-based pedagogies in PE
- Contributing to a journal article in collaboration with the University of Porto, regarding pre-service teachers’ use of game-based approaches, underpinned by Occupational Socialisation Theory
- Examining stigma and childhood obesity in collaboration with the NHS and the University of Cambridge
- Working with NHS NE and Cumbria and South Yorkshire ICBs to investigate the effects of the menopause transition for people with learning difficulties
- Identifying the barriers and recommendations of implementing a game-based approach in primary and secondary PE in England
My recently completed projects:
- Co-editor and co-author of 'Teaching Games and Sport for Understanding' book published by Routledge
- UKRI Funded collaborative research with Active Families NE to evaluate their Well Bean machine project in the Sunderland and Gateshead areas
- Led a scoping review with ERIC Knows CIO to explore the lived experiences of people with a disability
- Partnership with Sunderland City Council and members of the Workplace Health Alliance to investigate the barriers to healthy eating in workplaces
- Co-author to a chapter on TGfU directed teaching of netball in schools in England, published by Routledge in ‘Game-based Approaches in Physical Education-International Applications’
- Pedagogical models in physical education – specifically game-based approaches
- Teacher education
- Sociology
- Obesity and weight stigma
- Critical pedagogies
- Overcoming health and wellbeing inequalities
- Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) specifically disability in healthcare, education and sport
Professional Accreditations:
- Fellow, Higher Education Academy
- Fellow, Institute of Swimming
Professional Affiliations:
- Member, Association for Physical Education
- Member, Association Internationale des Écoles Supérieures d’Éducation Physique (AIESEP)
- Member, British Sociological Society
- Member, Society for Education and Training
- Member, Critical Pedagogies in Sport
- Member, Association for the Study of Obesity (ASO)
- Member, Leisure Studies Association
Professional Activities:
- Treasurer and Communications Co-ordinator, Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU) Special Interest Group (SIG) Executive Board.
As part of my role, I regularly host international webinars with guest speakers. I also proposed, organised and managed the TGfU SIG 40th Anniversary conference in 2023