Who’s our guest?Sam Horton is a passionate PE teacher who believes strongly in physical education, sport, and physical activity as essential contributors to children's love for healthy living and a tool to end physical inactivity. Sam possesses six years of experience at Wollescote Primary School and prior experience in sports coaching. He is particularly enthusiastic about sports and pursued a pathway into teaching to continue his passion on a professional level. He recently earned a promotion as the PE coordinator for Wollescote Primary School and is driven to enhance the PE culture within the school. His vision is based around the school ethos 'Be proud, be positive, be polite'.Despite his achievements, Sam remains humble and continuously strives for self-improvement, both in his abilities and in pushing PE to the forefront of the school environment. This is evident in his initiative to start girls' football at the school, which demonstrates his commitment to inclusivity. Additionally, Sam is highly engaged with the community, desiring to involve guardians and parents in the school's activities and to make them aware of the benefits and importance of PE in children's development.What do we discuss?-The importance of communication and sportsmanship in PE-The role of sports leaders in promoting sportsmanship-Debunking myths about PE teaching-The power of networking and collaboration in PE leadership-The importance of sportsmanship in school culture-The role of in-house competitions in promoting sportsmanship-The use of resources in enhancing PE teaching-Engaging the community in promoting physical activity-Feedback and reports: enhancing parental engagement-Setting goals: The journey to high standard PESSPA-Tracking physical activity: The future of school fitness-After school clubs: Enhancing pupil engagement-Empowering pupils in sports decision making-Fostering leadership skills-Launching a girls football team-Creating a vision for PE: A guide for new teachers-Creating effective PE resources: A personal journey-Best practices for PE lessons: A comprehensive guide-Top five tips for influencing PE and creating an active ethos

Taking the plunge: The evolution of primary school swimmingWho’s our guest? Kaylë has been a swimming teacher for 23 years and specialises in baby and pre-school swimming. With 19 years of tutoring experience, she is passionate about encouraging people to learn to swim and be safe in water. She has spoken internationally about the importance of learning to swim within a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment with participants at the centre of the lesson. Kaylë managed a swim school before joining STA in 2012. Recently appointed as the Director of Education at STA, Kaylë heads up the Qualification Development and Compliance team, creating fit-for-purpose, high-quality training qualifications and supporting the expanding Approved Training Centre workforce to ensure compliance and quality assurance for learners and employers across the sector. She is passionate about swimming - her happy place - and believes in its transformative power, both for individual health and social benefits.  What do we discuss? ·       The Importance of Swimming in Primary Schools·       Interview with Kaylë Brightwell from STA·       The role of STA in promoting swimming education·       The challenges and solutions in school swimming education ·       The challenges of incorporating swimming into the school curriculum·       The importance of prioritising swimming in schools·       Practical tips for implementing swimming lessons in primary schools.·       The role of teachers and resources in promoting swimming·       The impact of swimming on pupils and the community

Who’s our guest?Natalie Weir is an ardent advocate for physical education and bodily literacy. With over 15 years of experience in the field, Natalie has worked in national sporting bodies, including a twelve-year stint at British Orienteering in positions ranging from sport development to being on the senior leadership team. She is also the Chief Playmaker and mother to two children, whose physical growth and development have further instilled in her the importance of physical activity from a young age. Following this trail, she is currently chasing a PhD at the University of Derby exploring the correlation between movement and physical literacy in three to five-year-olds. Her primary focus is to encourage more activity among these age groups as she believes that early engagement in physical activity is integral to setting up young ones for healthier futures. She is dedicated to her mission of challenging the current state of physical education and promoting a more holistic approach to young people's physical activity. Natalie is known and respected for her insightful research, passionate advocacy, and continued contribution towards making physical inactivity a thing of the past. What do we discuss? Natalie's journey in physical educationThe importance of early physical activityNatalie's research on physical activity on under fivesThe role of physical literacy in children's livesThe impact of physical activity on health and societyThe role of education in promoting physical activityThe importance of physical education in schoolsChallenges and obstacles in implementing physical activity in schoolsQuick wins for promoting physical activity in schoolsThe importance of choice in physical educationBuilding a relationship between children and physical activity The changing nature of physical activity in childhoodThe role of competition in physical educationThe challenge of disparity in physical abilitiesThe importance of physical activity in learningThe role of data in physical educationThe role of teachers in promoting physical activity

Who is our guest?On our new season of PE Huddle Podcast, we had the pleasure of hosting Glenmead Primary School's class teacher and PE Lead, Hannah Davis. Hannah has been teaching for 4 years and has been in the PE Lead position for 3 years, having shadowed and supported the Deputy Head with PE previously. Her background includes obtaining a degree in PE and Sport Studies combined with Childhood and Youth Studies, before completing a SCITT in Primary Teaching. Hannah has a strong passion for sports and PE, enjoying competing in athletics and cross country running regularly throughout my childhood and attending regular Aston Villa football fixtures to date.  Stay tuned for more such engaging conversations on the PE Huddle Podcast! What do we chat about?Making PE Integral Across the SchoolTeam Effort and Communication:Support and Networking for TeachersEffective Professional DevelopmentPupil Leadership and IndependenceInvolving Families and CommunityData-Driven ImprovementsIdeal PE LessonsListening to pupil input

The series 3 finale of The Primary PE Huddle is here and what a series it’s been!For this final episode, we’re taking a look back over the series to bring you the very best insights, advice and words of wisdom. Who’s joined us on the podcast this series?Series 3 has seen us welcome a whole host of experts from the field of primary education: Episode 1:  “We don’t move for functional reasons, we move for the joy of it” with Greg Dryer, co-founder and CEO of miMove Episode 2:  “Once you’ve got the ear of SLT, then it’s about delivering on your promises” with John Haycock, PE lead at Chilcote Primary School Episode 3:  “Let's make learning irresistible” with Bryn Llewellyn, founder of Tagtiv8 Episode 4:“My PE teachers were my heroes” with Shaun Dowling, Head of Sport at United Learning Episode 5: “Engagement over compliance” with Deputy Headteacher Liam Gould and PE Lead Teresa Shackleton from Wodensfield Primary School Episode 6:  “You’re not on your own” with Louisa Mulvey, class teacher and PE Coordinator A big thank you to all our series 3 guests for joining us and sharing your experiences, thought-provoking insights, and inspirational ideas to embed a “top-down physically active ethos” in primary schools!

This week on the podcast we’re joined by class teacher and PE Coordinator Louisa Mulvey. Who is Louisa Mulvey?Louisa is a qualified teacher based in Hampshire. Louisa has been working in primary schools since 2014 where her career began on the sunny, leafy side of Wimbledon Village. Louisa spent three years teaching PE exclusively before qualifying in 2017 where she managed the role of class teacher alongside PE coordinator.Louisa’s teaching journey began after graduating university armed with a 2:2 in Sports Science and minimal career advice. During summers Louisa worked as a children’s camp manager. The company proceeded to offer Louisa a job as a site manager/PE teacher/lunchtime supervisor/afterschool club manager/ competition coordinator. The following three years saw Louisa manage numerous apprentices alongside the continuation of full-time teaching.At the beginning of Louisa’s third year in teaching she decided she needed to progress her career and gained qualified teacher status (QTS) through Schools Direct. Louisa began at a new school, training on the job whilst assisting the PE coordinator with competitions.Louisa then moved schools to begin her NQT year, settling into the role with ease; before the end of the year Louisa was promoted to PE coordinator. Balancing class work and the PE coordinator role could be a challenge, but because Louisa’s role was clearly outlined within the school, she felt like she had full control over it whilst enjoying great support from the head. Louisa continued to enjoy her PE teaching and took children to numerous tournaments across the borough. And then Covid…After leaving London and a brief hiatus from teaching and working in a pie shop, Louisa began a new role in Hampshire. Louisa began the role mid-year, and it was on her second day that the country went into lockdown. As a result, Louisa was unable to get to know colleagues and was given a jumble of classes on her second day with absolutely no knowledge of the logistics of how things worked around the school.After around 3 months, Louisa started to get the hang of things and was allowed to begin PE teaching, with the addition of strict cleaning protocols. The following school year saw things get back to normal, PE was allowed to resume properly, and Louisa was delighted to take on the role of PE lead alongside an already established team of three. Working alongside a larger team was new to Louisa and at times it was confusing to ascertain who was meant to be doing what. At times there could be divided opinions on things such as how the PE budget could be spent. However, Louisa was pleased to get stuck into the role and quickly began organising lunchtime athletics trials and drawing up school teams for interschool competitions. Louisa’s advice to anyone taking on the role of PE coordinator is to take charge of your role, ensure to clearly establish and (where necessary) divide responsibilities as there is nothing more frustrating in teaching than ‘too many cooks’… What’s discussed in the episode?Communication is the key Play to the strengths in your team Prove that it works and benefits everyone Get children moving Let the children explore

This week on the podcast we welcome United Learning’s Head of Sport Shaun Dowling. Who is Shaun Dowling?Shaun is Head of Sport at United Learning, a national group of primary, secondary and all-through schools across the state and independent sectors. As Head of Sport, Shaun supports Heads of PE and Directors of Sport in further improving the quality of their PE curriculum, school sport programmes and physical activity provision; Shaun ensures they’re using the power of sport to assist young people with their wider educational development.Shaun is a former Head of PE and Director of Specialism, having progressed to Deputy Headship in two specialist sports colleges. Having trained at the West Sussex Institute of Higher Education, Shaun later gained his MA(Ed) from Southampton University. He achieved his NPQH before the opportunity arose to undertake a national role in the education team at the Youth Sport Trust (YST). Shaun’s extensive experience also includes:Curriculum, teacher-training and sports & school leadership work in America, South Africa and Iraq 2013: Appearance before the Education Select Committee to give evidence on ‘School Sport following London 2012’  2014: Co-wrote and edited ‘The A-Z of School Improvement through PE and Sport: Principles and Practice’, a not-for-profit book published by United Learning and sold around the world. 2017: Gained the Level 7 Executive Coaching and Mentoring qualification from the Institute of Leadership and Management. 2020: Shaun is elected Chair of SLQ Sports Leaders 2020: Shaun wrote ‘Pivot Flex Adapt. Physical Education through the 2020 Pandemic’ 2020: Invited to be part of the afPE Taskforce  2021: Invited to be part of Ofsted’s PE Working GroupWhat’s discussed in the episode? How we can be prepared for a range of needs Why the primary phase is so pivotal The importance of resilience Failure is OK What is your vision?Getting whole school and community ‘buy in’

In the words of a Key Stage 2 pupil, this week’s podcast guest “is a genius”.For episode 3 of The Primary PE Huddle, we welcome Tagtiv8  founder Bryn Llewellyn.  Who is Bryn Llewellyn?Bryn worked in multiple UK schools for over 20 years as a teacher and school leader. In 2012, Bryn founded Tagtiv8. His pioneering approach to Physically Active Learning (PAL) provides a valuable and enjoyable alternative to classroom-based learning – crucial when challenging the increasing problem of sedentary lifestyles.Research by Leeds Beckett University demonstrates that Tagtiv8 PAL solutions tackle inactivity and obesity levels, as well as impacting positively on academic performance. Following this research, Dr Andy Daly-Smith and Bryn Llewellyn co-delivered their TEDx Talk.And Bryn’s work doesn’t stop there, he’s also co-director of Move & Learn (CIC), and education consultant for the BBC and Premier League Supermovers & Live Lessons. What’s discussed in the episode? Physically Active Learning for continued marginal gains.Let's break up sedentary learning.How do we get off the hamster wheel?What are the obstacles and how do we overcome them?Listen to the children, if they enjoy it, they will benefit.

This week on the podcast we’re joined by primary school PE lead John Haycock. Who is John Haycock?John has been a teacher at Chilcote primary school for 11 years, both as PE and class teacher.Joining the school with a view to take over PE, John completed his NQT and became PE lead in his second year. 10 years on, John’s passion for sport and physical activity combined with his drive has put PE, school sport and physical activity at the heart of school life. What’s discussed in the episode?Where to go to get support as a PE leadThe role of a PE lead over the last 10 yearsObserving lessons - best practice Making PE and physical activity the heart of school lifeHelping children to become young leadersOpportunities for those less activeSplit role as a class teacher and a PE lead

The Primary PE Huddle is back for Series 3 with a whole new host of experts from across the sport and physical activity sector.To kick off the series, we welcome Greg Dryer, co-founder and CEO of miMove. Who is Greg Dryer?Greg is the co-founder and CEO of miMove, the world’s first bespoke app enabling schools to help pupils make physical activity a normal and regular part of their lives.  Prior to the creation of miMove, Greg was founder and director of the Centre for Physical Education, Sport and Activity at Kingston University (CPESA) after a long teaching career that afforded him the opportunity to work with all ages from pre-school through to post-grad.  Greg is a highly experienced physical educator and critical thinker, having led PE departments in three London schools before moving into higher education.  Greg’s work disrupts exclusive practices in PE and sport. Drawing inspiration from psychology, critical theory, pedagogy and economics, Greg reimagines PE and sport practices to create more equitable and fulfilling experiences that will enable our profession to deliver more effectively on our universal goal: More young people finding a place for physical activity in their lives. LinkedInTwitter What’s discussed in this episode?·       Never stop learning, don’t shortcut what goes wrong.·       Let’s trigger the conversation.·       Everyone needs to find their playground.·       Experiences that trigger an emotional response, embed life habits.·       Stay in your lane and cut the confusion.·       What is the clear journey?

This week on the podcast we welcome two of the team from Wodensfield Primary School, Deputy Headteacher Liam Gould and PE Lead Teresa Shackleton. Who is Liam Gould?Liam is Deputy Headteacher of Wodensfield Primary School. Liam has over twenty years’ experience working in schools and leadership roles, but his passion has always been in sport and PE.  From a young age Liam’s parents provided him with lots of opportunities to play and participate in different sports.  Liam’s first official participation in sport was playing for a local junior football team, as he moved into his teens this expanded to cricket, tennis, table tennis and golf.  This engagement with sports has continued into adulthood. Liam continues to play golf and has a handicap of 5, he coaches his son’s (U12’s) and daughter’s (U9’s) football teams, valuing the chance to provide his own children and their teammates with key opportunities to lead healthy lives. All this means most of Liam’s days are taken up by sport.And why teaching?  Liam had great teachers, two of them being PE teachers. Liam wants to be that role model and difference in a child’s life. Having been fortunate to attend great educational establishments – Thomas Telford CTC and Worcester University – Liam wants to replicate in his own school what he has seen and experienced for it to be the best place it can be for learning.  Who is Teresa Shackleton?Teresa is a Year 5 teacher and PE Lead at Wodensfield Primary School. Teresa has been teaching since 1995, having qualified as a secondary trained teacher of PE and English from the University of Brighton and subsequently worked as a teacher and Head of PE at schools in the West Midlands.After taking a break to have her three girls, Teresa’s keen interest in PE within the primary setting led her to return to the primary sector.Teresa has always had a passion for sport, having played volleyball and competed in athletics both at a regional level. With sports-mad children, Teresa has taken her daughters to dance, gymnastics and swimming from a young age. Through their gymnastics, Teresa was able to coach and is a qualified Level 2 coach, with an additional cheerleading qualification, training that she’s found useful in her role at Wodensfield as she’s able to provide a higher-level gymnastics experience.Teresa’s daughters now play netball and basketball at a high level, and she hopes to provide similar experiences to the children at Wodensfield, making them aware of the sporting opportunities out there.Teresa’s primary wish for the children at Wodensfield is that she and her colleagues are able to show them the joy that physical activity can bring, regardless of the form that it may take. Teresa hopes that the children leave in Year 6 with a passion for being active that they share with others and lasts a lifetime.What’s discussed in the episode?The importance of collaboration in primary schools to drive a whole school approach to physical activityDelegation of tasksRiding the highs and lows togetherThe difference between primary vs secondary school PE from a PE lead positionProgression of children from the start to the end of their primary school lifeHow to support the confidence of staff when delivering PE

Episode 9: Don't be scared of healthy competitionWith just shy of 30,000 followers, Emily is well-known in the Teacher Twittersphere. She’s known for her love of books, stationery, and initiating #TeacherSelfcareSunday which aims to help teachers focus on their own wellbeing and banish Sunday blues.Just as she is always generous with her ideas and resources, Emily has taken time out of her busy week to give us her views on PE, in this week’s episode of The Primary PE Huddle. Who is Emily Weston?Emily has been teaching for eight years, predominantly in Year 6, although she has also spent one year working in Secondary as a Transition Teacher. With a real passion for this area of education, she now leads CPD on the subject, as well as creating resources and finding new ways to make the process easier for children. Alongside this, she has been Reading Lead, which is another area she has passion and drive to develop in schools.Having played a whole range of sports throughout her own childhood and teen years, she knows what a vital place it has within schools not just to stay physically healthy, but mentally too.Twitter and Instagram: @primaryteachew What’s covered in the podcast?In this episode, Emily and Dan talk about: Using PE to teach the resilience that is needed across the curriculum. Why getting reluctant pupils involved is essential – and how to do it.How PE Leads can support teachers who haven’t always had a positive relationship with PE

In the penultimate episode of this series of The PE Huddle, Dan meets Ryan Ellis to talk about what Ryan sees happening in schools and his tips and tricks for juggling the many demands on you as a PE Lead, including pointing out that the National Curriculum for PE doesn’t actually require you to teach specific sports. Who is Ryan Ellis?‘The PE Umbrella Man’, as he is often called, lived a childhood filled with sport and physical activity and always had a burning desire to teach PE. After several years of coaching and then teaching, Ryan turned his full focus towards making a bigger impact in primary PE. In 2015, Ryan set up The PE Umbrella which has evolved from a podcast platform into a consulting career allowing him to provide training for schools, universities and SCITTs.Listen to this week’s episode of The PE Huddle: Make PE the golden thread in your school to hear Ryan’s words of wisdom.In the podcast, we discussWhy you don’t need to pressure yourself to think of new activities every week.How, as a PE Lead, you can look at PE through different lenses.Why it’s important to take every opportunity to be the PE advocate. Why you shouldn’t let your own past experiences of PE affect how you approach teaching it.

Whole school improvement is no small matter. As a teacher, SLT member, or school governor, it is your responsibility to plan for and make changes that will have a positive impact on not only assessment data but also the wellbeing of all members of the school community. As an experienced school governor, Andy Heald is no stranger to school improvement and he believes that physical activity is key to success. Listen to this week’s episode of The PE Huddle: Physical Activity for Whole School Improvement to find out more. In the podcast, we discussThe importance of asking “What is the bigger picture?” when looking at the PE curriculumWhy you should focus on the WHY, before the How and the WhatAndy’s belief that Activity + Achievement = Fun The need to create great physical activity experiences for children

International athlete Ryan Bradley champions holistic development through gymnastics An ex-international gymnast, Commonwealth Games Bronze medalist and five times British Champion, Ryan Bradley is now the Director of RB Gym & Sport, working to develop and enhance the teaching of gymnastics in schools and supporting both teachers and pupils.In his conversation with Dan Hayes in this week’s episode of The PE Huddle, Ryan reflects on his experiences working in schools and discusses ways in which teachers can raise their gymnastics game.  The podcast covers: ·       Teaching gymnastics vocabulary·       The importance of building on fundamental skills, not just sequence difficulty·       Why gymnastics is key for building skills in all sports ·       Challenging all children to reach their potential·       Why using a combination of types of CPD is vital

In episode 5 of this series of The PE Huddle, Dan is joined by teacher (and five-ball juggler) Brendan Rouse.  Who is Brendan Rouse? Brendan is a primary teacher who specialises in teaching PE. He works across two different schools and also leads Forest School.  In 2002 Brendan won the LTA Tennis Teacher of the Year Award, which opened the door to becoming a School Sports Coordinator. He has since visited and supported over 60 primary schools. He has also been a Youth Sport Trust Tops Tutor and lectured on the Bath Spa University Primary PGCE PE specialist course.During lockdown, Brendan set himself the challenge of learning to juggle with five balls!   What’s covered in the podcast?In this episode, Brendan and Dan talk about: ·       The A, B, C, D, E and F of Primary PE·       The impact of physical activity on behaviour and concentration ·       Why you should develop your Leadership and Management skills, as well as your PE teaching

Helen Lowe took over as Headteacher at Penns Primary just two months before the first lockdown. Despite all the disruption that ensued, she has worked hard to raise the profile of PE and physical activity in the school and to put it at the heart of school life. Helen joins us on this week’s episode of The PE Huddle to share her nuggets of wisdom. Who is Helen Lowe? Helen hails from Merseyside but having moved to Birmingham to study she now considers it to be home. A teacher since 2003, Helen worked her way up the leadership ladder and has now been a Headteacher for four years. As Headteacher of a one-form entry school, she is proud of the family feel of the school and feels lucky to be part of the school’s fantastic community. She strongly believes that the role of a Headteacher in school improvement goes hand in hand with being ‘on the ground’ working with the children and modelling the behaviours she wants to see. As a lifelong Liverpool football club fan and a keen cricketer, Helen has been known to get her PE kit on to play sport with the children, showing them that even the Headteacher enjoys being active! Twitter What’s covered in the podcast?In this episode, Helen and Paul talk about: Encouraging conversation with parents about children’s activity levelsAssessing and tracking the fitness of all pupilsEmbedding more physical activity into every day.

When Karl Rogerson walked into his Headteacher’s office and declared that PE teaching in the school wasn’t good enough and that he could make it better, he probably didn’t realise he was taking the first step in a career which would involve using PE to improve schools at all levels. Karl joins us on this week’s episode of The PE Huddle to share his experiences Who is Karl Rogerson?Karl started his career as a teacher and is now the Principal of a three-form primary school in Birmingham. Along the way, he worked as an Advanced Skills Teacher for Physical Education and as a Curriculum Consultant for Birmingham Local Authority.He is also Headteacher Ambassador for Youth Sports Trust and a facilitator on the Education Development Trust Schools partnership programme.Karl is passionate about school improvement and the impact that high-quality teaching and learning can have on young people's lives, especially the most vulnerable in our society. What’s covered in the podcast?In this episode, Karl and Dan talk about:The importance of PE across the whole schoolHow PE Leads and SLT can work together to develop PEWays of engaging stakeholders at all levelsThe importance of celebrating your successesHow innovation can be a game-changer

In this week’s episode of the PE Huddle, Dan talks to Vanessa King, a PE consultant who knows that every school is different and believes that whatever the circumstances, one of the most important things you can do is always be looking for ways to develop yourself and your team.Who is Vanessa King?Vanessa is a qualified teacher with an MA in Primary Education. Vanessa has taught in schools in the UK as well as abroad and was a PE lead for many years. She’s soon due to finish a doctorate examining the contextual factors that impact upon PE, physical activity and sport experiences in primary schools in the UK. In her current role as a consultant, she has worked with hundreds of teachers across the UK, supporting them in the delivery of PE to improve their knowledge and confidence of the subject. Vanessa has also supported a number of organisations with the development of content including Association for Physical Education, Oak Academy, Hampshire PE and School Sport, Energise Me and a number of coaching organisations. She has presented at a number of conferences, including afPE initial teacher training and the afPE national conference.What’s covered in the podcast?In this episode, we discuss: Benchmarking in PEImplementing an action planCreating a team and ethos focused on PE, school sport and physical activityHow to build a team around youDeveloping staff for whole school impact

The PE Huddle podcast is back for a second series! Episode 1 is now live, and Paul is in discussion with Stuart Jones. Who is Stuart Jones?Stuart is a busy man. In a one-form entry primary in Birmingham he holds many roles. Along with teaching Year 5, being Deputy Headteacher, managing Inclusion and leading History, Stuart is the school’s PE and School Sport Lead.In the first episode of the new series of The PE Huddle, we meet Stuart and hear about his mission to make physical activity something that happens naturally and that is effortlessly integrated across the curriculum. What’s covered in the podcast?In this episode, Stuart:tells us how he supports early career teachers to become confident in teaching PE.shares how he ensures CPD is targeted to support individual teachers with what they really need.explains the approach the school is striving towards, where physical activity is naturally and effortlessly integrated in a cross curricular way.talks about how to get staff to see the benefit of physical activity within all lessons.discusses the importance of good high-quality PE that addresses not only the physical movement and learning of life skills but supports the wellbeing and mindfulness of the children.