Physical Literacy

Margaret Whitehead

Margaret trained as a Physical Education teacher, taught in school and then lectured at Homerton College, Cambridge and later at Bedford College of Physical Education, now The University of Bedfordshire. Her last post, before retiring in 2000 was the Associate Head of School of Physical Education, Sport and Leisure and Head of Quality in the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences. While at Bedford she was very much involved across the UK in course scrutiny and external examining. She was President of the Physical Education Association of the United Kingdom from 1999-2001. Margaret continued to study, gaining a PhD in 1987 on the aspects of Phenomenology and Existentialism in relation to embodiment. From this study she developed the concept of Physical Literacy. She has presented papers at national and international conferences in, for example, Australia, Canada, Greece, Egypt and Ireland. She was invited to present at the National Summit of Physical Education in England in 2005 and at the World Summit of Physical Education in Switzerland in 2006.

Dominic Haydn-Davies

Dom Haydn-Davies is a Senior Lecturer in Physical Education at Roehampton University. From a background in primary teaching he has held a variety of roles, most recently working extensively with primary, secondary and special school teachers across South West London. He is an active member of the Association for Physical Education (afPE) and has been a Board member for afPE (and previously for the Physical Education Association UK) since 2004. He has presented workshops and papers at national and international conferences and been involved in resource development for a number of agencies. Dom began investigating the concept of Physical Literacy in 2001 as part of a DfES Best Practice Research Scholarship.

James Mandigo

James Mandigo is an Associate Professor at Brock University in the Department of Physical Education and Kinesiology. He is also the Co-Director for the Centre for Healthy Development through Sport and Physical Activity at Brock University and an active member of the Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (CAHPERD) Board of Directors. James' current research and development activities have focused on how physical education can be a vehicle to foster the development of physical literacy, positive youth development and life skills. He has worked extensively with local teachers and school boards within Canada and throughout the Caribbean and El Salvador. His research and development activities in this area have been funded by the Canadian Social Science and Humanities Research Council, the International Development and Research Council of Canada, and Scotiabank International.

Andrew Martin

Andrew was the Physical Development Co-ordinator at Durants School - a Special School in Enfield, London, England. He has recently moved to Sydney, Australia where he is working in a Special School.