David was formerly Head of Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Chester. He trained initially as a PE teacher at St John’s College, York and taught at Sale Boys Grammar School and Weaverham Secondary School before completing an Advanced Diploma in PE at Leeds University in Biomechanics and Exercise Physiology followed by an MSc in Human Biology at Loughborough University. As a lecturer David worked at Anstey School of PE, Didsbury College of Education and I. M. Marsh School of PE as an exercise physiologist and in initial teacher training. In addition, he has researched and published extensively into the bio physical profiles of elite athletes and sports players. David has over 40 years involvement with NWCPEA as Chairman, Secretary, Book Review Editor, Blackpool Easter School committee and chairman and producer of the Health-Related Fitness in Schoolchildren video and resource pack.

Chris has been involved in the teaching and promotion of Physical Education for over fifty years. Additionally, he has been actively involved in research on both a National and International basis throughout his career. Chris is now semi-retired but remains an Associate Lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University. He is the Chair and a Life-Member of the North Western Counties Physical Education Association and is also a current Board member of the European Physical Education Association.

Nigel Green has been a Senior Lecturer in Physical Education at Liverpool John Moores University since 2009. He taught physical education in four secondary schools for 29 years, during which he led three departments, a faculty (including PE, Art, Music, Dance and Drama) and a networked community before he moved into higher education. Nigel has been involved in training teachers and providing INSET for over twenty years. As a previous member of the Physical Education Association Executive Committee and a current member of North Western Counties Physical Education Association and the International Physical Literacy Association Executive Committees, Nigel demonstrates a commitment and passion to promote and support the development of physical education and physical literacy worldwide. He has written articles, delivered CPD, organised and presented at workshops and conferences on personal development through PE, ICT in PE, assessment in PE and physical literacy. Nigel has also recently been elected as Chair of the International Physical Literacy Association and has become editor of the Research Matters section of the afPE journal, Physical Education Matters.

Ken’s current academic and professional affiliation is as Emeritus Honorary Professor at the University of Worcester, UK and as an expert advisor to UNESCO, WHO and IOC in the domain of school Physical Education and Sport Development. His experience embraces teaching in schools, lecturing in teacher training and university institutions in the UK and Japan, advisory services to the Council of Europe, European Parliament and Kuwait Government, honoured membership of several international and national Non-Governmental Organisations and international journal editorial board positions. His ‘Recognition’ Awards include the International FIEP Gold Cross of Honour of Physical Education, the ICSSPE Philip Noel-Baker Research Award, ISCPES Distinguished Service Award and the PEA UK Ling Award.

Rita Hesford worked as a physical education teacher in a variety of secondary schools for 34 years. She worked at Parrs Wood High School in Manchester for 21 years, the last 13 as Deputy Director of Physical Education. In 2002 she was appointed as an Advanced Skills Teacher initially for her specialist knowledge in Initial Teacher Training. She then worked as a teacher advisor for Manchester Local Authority and also worked as a liaison tutor for the Graduate Teacher Programme at University of Chester and the postgraduate and undergraduate teaching programmes at LJMU. In 2010 she was appointed as a senior lecturer in ITT at LJMU, leaving in Dec 2014 She has been a senior moderator for Pearson GCSE PE and OCR Entry level since 1999. In addition to her work as a moderator she currently works as a Physical Education Consultant and Validator for afPE Quality Mark.

Ken is Head of the Department of Sport & Exercise Sciences at the University of Chester and a Visiting Professor at Innland University Norway. Prior to joining the University of Chester in 1991, Ken spent nine years teaching PE in the South East, the Midlands and the North West of England, including one year in teacher education. He is Editor-in-Chief of the European Physical Education Review and on the editorial boards of the International Journal of Sports Policy and the Scandinavian Sports Studies Forum. Ken’s teaching and research interests lie in the sociology of PE and youth sport. His most recent publications include:

Green, K., Sigurjónsson, T & Skille, E.Å. (eds) (2018) Sport in Scandinavia and the Nordic Countries. London: Routledge.Wheeler, S., Green, K. & Thurston, M. (2019) Social class and the emergent organised sporting habits of primary-aged children, European Physical Education Review.

Wheeler, S. & Green, K. (2018) “The fixtures, the kits, the gear, the gum shields, the food, the snacks, the waiting, the rain, the car rides…”: Social class, parenting and children’s organised leisure, Sport, Education and Society.

Johansen, P.-F. & Green, K. (2017) “It’s alpha omega for succeeding and thriving”: Parents, children and sporting cultivation in Norway, Sport, Education and Society.

Green, K. & Smith, A. (eds) (2016) The Routledge Handbook of Youth Sport. London: Routledge.

Dr Nollaig McEvilly is a Senior Lecturer in the sociology of sport and exercise at the University of Chester. She has been the Editor of European Physical Education Review since December 2014 (having previously been the Assistant Editor).

Gareth completed his undergraduate degree at Birmingham University followed by a PGCE at West London Institute of Higher Education. His PE teaching career involved posts at schools in Oxfordshire and Merseyside where he undertook roles involving Head of Department and Gifted and Talented Coordinator. While teaching, Gareth completed his MA in PE, Sport and Dance at Liverpool John Moores University. He worked as a Senior Lecturer at Edge Hill University and is currently Senior Lecturer in PE and Pedagogy at the University of Chester. Gareth has previously held the post of External Examiner in Sport related degrees at the University of Worcester and the University of Wolverhampton. He serves as Chair of the Research and Professional Development Committee for North Western Counties PE Association. Gareth has published his research on middle management, performativity, and Free Schools in various education journals. He has also written Impact Reports for the Liverpool Schools Sport Partnership.

Hannah has taught for over 25 years across 5 key stages in mainstream and special schools all across the City of Manchester. In every school she has taught she has been Physical Education Subject Leader. She worked in the Wythenshawe and South Manchester School Sport Partnership as both School Sport Co-ordinator and Partnership Development Manager. She has also been Assistant Headteacher and a valuable member of many school’s Senior Leadership Teams. After achieving Advanced Skills Teacher status in 2009 and more recently Lead Practitioner status, her key focus has been on Physical Education at the nationally recognised St John’s RC Primary School in Manchester.

Her passion for Physical Education and sport, as a vehicle for ensuring all children achieve their full potential and develop an enthusiasm and enjoyment for life, has been her motivator. At St John’s she is responsible for delivering the school’s extensive Physical Education and sport offer, ensuring all children are engaged in school life to the full. This involves the inclusion of SEND pupils with a range of needs in a mainstream setting. Her commitment to the power of Physical Education and Sport led St John’s to be the first primary school to be awarded the Association for PE’s Quality Mark with distinction and has been awarded again for a second three-year term. The school has also been awarded the School Games mark gold seven times and the new Platinum award as well as the Youth Sport Trust’s quality mark gold award twice.

For over sixteen years Hannah has been a valuable member of the Manchester tutor team for Physical Education. She was awarded Advanced Skills `Teacher status is 2009, Specialist Leader of Education status in 2013 and is now the Strategic Director of Physical Education Professional Learning. She has worked on the School’s Direct programme to ensure the quality delivery of the Primary Physical Education section of the training.

As a member of the Physical Education Expert Subject Advisory Group, Greater Manchester Physical Education Strategy Group, Manchester’s PE School Sport and Physical Activity Strategy Group and the North Western Counties PE Association, Hannah believes strongly that her role is to represent schools and all pupils. She is committed to giving all children the opportunities to thrive in all areas of their life through the power of Physical Education, sport and physical activity.

Andy Sprake is a Lecturer in Physical Education at the University of Central Lancashire and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. His publications are largely concerned with physical education culture, philosophy and pedagogy as well as student-centred learning in physical education. His ongoing PhD explores the learning culture in physical education as well as the barriers to, and opportunities for, enhancing the educational status of physical education in the curriculum. His prior experience as a teacher of secondary physical education raised numerous questions about the educational value of physical education, a curiosity which guides much of his work, and teaching practice, today. Andy is an active member of the North Western Counties Physical Education Association (NWCPEA) and is the English National Delegate for the International Federation of Physical Education (FIEP). His most recent publications include:

Sprake, A. and Palmer, C. (2022). Understanding the interpretive paradigm: a guide for sports students learning through qualitative research. Journal of Qualitative Research in Sports Studies, 16(1), 45-68.

Sprake, A., Grecic, D. & Palmer, C. (2021). Situating the CARE curriculum: The need for change. In: D, Grecic. & C, Palmer (eds). The CARE Curriculum in Physical Education and Sport: A Guide to Pupil and Athlete Development, pp. 9-16. Sport and Wellbeing Press: Preston.

Grecic, D., Sprake, A. & Taylor, R. (2020). PE can do much more than keep children fit – but its many benefits are often overlooked. Available online at The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/pe-can-do-much-more-than-keep-children-fit-but-its-many-benefits-are-often-overlooked-148595

Palmer, C. & Sprake, A. (2020). Arts-based learning in Physical Education: sharing philosophies and practice in Higher Education. In M, Bobrík, B, Antala. and R, Pělucha (Eds.) Physical Education in Universities: researches, best practice and situation. Slovak Scientific Society for Physical Education and Sport and FIEP.

Sprake, A. & Palmer, C. (2019). PE to Me: a concise message about the potential for learning in Physical Education. Journal of Qualitative Research in Sports Studies, 13(1), 57-60.

Sprake, A. (2019). Don’t turn the page: there is value in literacy for physical education. Scottish Association for Teachers of Physical Education Journal (9th Edition). SATPE: Scotland.

Sprake, A. & Palmer, C. (2019). Physical Education: A Call for Physical Evidence. Physical Education Matters, 14(1), pp. 20-23.

Sprake, A. & Palmer, C. (2018). Physical Education is just as important as any other school subject. Available online at The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/physical-education-is-just-as-important-as-any-other-school-subject-103187

Sprake, A. & Palmer, C. (2018) Physical Education: the allegory of the classroom. Journal of Qualitative Research in Sports Studies, 12(1), 57-78.

Glenn is a Senior Lecturer in Primary Physical Education at Edge Hill University. His main research interests are Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) , models-based learning in games and educational gymnastics. In 2003 Glenn was appointed as a primary teacher adviser for PE working across 500 primary schools in Lancashire delivering courses, resources and INSET to primary school staff.  He was the Lead Trainer for Lancashire Local Delivery Agency from 2005 – 2011. In 2014 Glenn was appointed as a Senior Teaching and Learning Consultant in Primary Physical Education and the Head of Lancashire Outdoor Education Service. This managing and leading the three Lancashire Outdoor Centres alongside his primary PE training and consultancy role. Glenn has also worked as a tutor for a number of organisations including Youth Sport Trust, British Gymnastics, 1st4 Sport and Sports Leaders UK.

Beccy taught in primary education for 18 years, driving her passion for PE, School Sport and Physical Activity through her additional role as Physical Education Subject Lead. In 2017, she became a Specialist Leader of Education (SLE), and started supporting primary schools across Warrington to improve their provision of PE, focusing on enhancing the quality of teaching and learning.

Beccy then became the PE & School Sport Lead in Warrington, the role she currently holds, where she provides an annual membership of CPD events and opportunities, which every primary school and special school engages with across the town. In 2018, she also became a tutor with Create Development, and delivers training for their ‘real PE’ scheme around the North West. Beccy also delivers CPD for other organisations in the region, such as Initial Teacher Training providers and bespoke days for School Sport Partnerships.