People

Members of PCRE.

University of Edinburgh members

Dr Shirley Gray, Group Lead Dr Shirley Gray is a Senior Lecturer in Physical Education. In general, her research interests are around physical education curriculum and pedagogy, and previously she has explored the practices and learning of physical education teachers in relation to gender, social and emotional learning, pupil motivation and decision-making in games. Shirley is currently working with academics, both nationally and internationally, in projects related to: PE, Health and wellbeing curricula, critical digital health pedagogies, embodiment and trauma informed pedagogies. She is available to supervise postgraduate (MScR and PhD) students in any of these areas.
Dr Nicola Carse Dr Nicola Carse is a Lecturer in Physical Education. In general, her research interests are around primary physical education, physical education curriculum and pedagogy, teacher education and practitioner enquiry. Nicola is currently working with academics, both nationally and internationally, in projects related to: PE, Health and wellbeing curricula, meaningfulness in youth sport, inclusion within physical education and teacher vision.
Dr Kuang-Hsu Chiang Kuang-Hsu Chiang is a lecturer in Higher Education at Moray House School of Education and Sport. She is currently developing the idea of Fluid Education through the concepts of fluidity and interculturality by taking a Hegelian dialectical approach to education and understanding. She is at present fascinated by discovering unconventional dimensions of educational reality such as its non-linearity, messiness and serendipity, and how they can be implied in pedagogy. Her previous works contributed to the areas of research training, disciplinary differences, knowledge production, University-Industry partnership, trust in Higher Education, Higher Education policies, and HE technocracy and administration. She is keen to engage with anyone who shares similar interests and welcomes in particular cross-disciplinary or cross-sectorial dialogues.
Dr Murray Craig Dr Murray Craig is a Teaching Fellow in Physical Education. His main research interests focus on digital technology use in PE, in particular teachers' motives for using digital technologies, as well as understanding the underlying factors that affect their habits and practices with it. He is currently involved in the 'Hybrid Pioneer' project at Moray House School of Education and Sport. Murray is also interested in both curriculum and talent development, examining how the concepts from each field can inform and support the other i.e. considering how concepts and theoretical models from the field of talent development can be applied in school settings to realise current policy ambitions in Scotland and beyond.
Denise Dewar Teaching Fellow for Physical Education
Dr Deb Holt Dr Deb Holt is a Lecturer in Health and Wellbeing and Mental Health Promotion. Her research interests focus on mental health promotion in education. That includes exploring how schools enact the Health and Wellbeing curriculum, whole school approaches to social and emotional wellbeing promotion, teacher and student teacher positive mental health, and any specific elements of positive mental health promotion in education.
Dr Andrew Horrell Andrew Horrell is the Director of Undergraduate Studies and a Senior Lecturer in Physical Education. His current research interests include; curriculum development and enactment, health and wellbeing policy and practice, physical education teachers’ lives and careers, and initial teacher education. Andrew is working with a group of teachers one local authority to support a collaborative practitioner enquiry focused on formative assessment and with other colleagues to develop lesson study on the MA Physical Education degree programme. He is available to supervise (MScR and PhD) students.
Dr Mike Jess Dr Mike Jess is a Senior Lecturer in Physical Education. His personal interests focus on the relationship between complexity thinking, ecological perspectives and professional practice. He is currently project leader of Visions and Voices: a longitudinal project that seeks to develop teachers’ personal visions as a key feature of future developments in physical education.
Wilma Irvine Wilma is a Teaching Fellow in Primary PE: MA Physical Education Programme Coordinator Year 1 whose main area of research is 3-14 Primary Physical Education.
Dr Sarah MacIsaac Dr Sarah MacIsaac is a Lecturer in Physical Education at the University of Edinburgh, UK. Her research interests lie within the sociology of health, the body and physical education. Her research explores contemporary body-related culture amongst young people, looking specifically at social media use.
Dr Justine MacLean Dr Justine MacLean is a Lecturer in Physical Education. Her research interests are within the social and cultural practices in physical education, in particular how pupils, students and teachers can develop their potential within the educational environment. Her recent research focuses on teachers acting as agents of change in contexts of curriculum enactment, communities of practice, educational inequalities and when resilience is required.
Dr Paul McMillan Dr Paul McMillan is a Lecturer in Physical Education. His two main research interests include the investigation of teaching and professional learning. These two research interests are currently being explored through Lesson Study, which involves participants in collective planning, observation, data gathering and reflection on practice. He currently leads and supports several Lesson Study projects in secondary schools and across various professional programmes at the Moray House School of Education and Sport.
Karen Munro Karen Munro is a teaching fellow within the School of Education and Sport. Her research looks at teacher’s vision, in particular student teacher’s, with the aim to track their vision in a longitudinal study.
Ciara Blennerhassett Ciara Blennerhassett is a PhD student within the School of Education and Sport. She is also an Education officer with National Council for Curriculum and Assessment in Ireland. Her PhD is focusing on Primary Physical Education, curriculum development and stakeholder perspectives of primary PE in Ireland.
Stephanie Hardley Stephanie Hardley is a PhD candidate within the School of Education and Sport at the University of Edinburgh. Her research focuses on understanding how Scottish schools conceptualise, support, and promote mental, social, and emotional health and wellbeing for disadvantaged students. She has a background in public health, social psychology, and qualitative research methods. Her research interests include health and wellbeing, health promotion, and children and young people.
Ella Williams MScR Student