“Performance Lifestyle is a personalised support service specifically designed to help each athlete create the unique environment necessary for their success.” (UK Sport)The Performance Lifestyle team at Loughborough aims to support development and empower our student-athletes to obtain the highest possible level of performance both during their Loughborough journey and beyond.

I volunteer at my local primary school once a week to help children with their reading.

Director of Sport, Health and Fitness across the 3-18 age range, Solihull Prep and Senior Schools.I was appointed as Solihull's first whole school Director of Health, Sport and Fitness post COVID and post their merger with the local girls' independent school, Saint Martin's. I was given three objectives by the Headmaster - to raise the profile of girls' sport, to ensure a common purpose through the Prep School and Senior School and to improve the culture of the boys' rugby.Participation rates were excellent at Solihull with every pupil in Year5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 given the opportunity to represent the school in a different sport each term. Girls' sport flourished with after school matches supported by the whole community, improved playing kit, cricket teams in every year group, more Full School colours awarded, netball teams reaching national finals and the ambition to enter our 1st XI hockey team into England Hockey's Tier One competition. In addition to the excellent female coaching team we invited Abbie Brown (GB Sevens captain) and Beth Cobden (England Roses Netball) to come in to take masterclass sessions for boys and girls.Our agreed purpose at Solihull was for Sport, Health and Fitness to be fun and enjoyable for every single pupil - this permeated throughout the Prep and Senior Schools. Prep School sport flourished under the superb leadership of the Director of Sport, Tracey Farnell. A review of the Sport, Health and Fitness department was outstanding highlighting the range of activities on offer, the quality of coaching and the excellent leadership.The appointment of Brett Richmond as Head of Rugby ensured that values, philosophies and coaching methods could be re-evaluated. Boys were given a free choice to play contact or non-contact rugby, senior boys were encouraged to coach younger age groups and values and behaviours became the priorities of the programme.

My two years at Uppingham were disrupted by COVID. I really enjoyed connecting and collaborating with other Directors of Sport to devise programmes for pupils at home. The Inter Girls Track and Field Cup team I coached was Uppingham's first ever girls' team to reach a national final.

I enjoyed thirteen fantastic years at PGS; it is a lovely, family school that made me feel welcome from day one. I worked with two outstanding Headmasters; Tim Hands and James Priory challenged us to be ambitious and to ignite a passion in every pupil. As a Senior Teacher I was involved with the wider aspects of school life which helped me to become a better Director of Sport. Our two daughters attended PGS - this was the biggest perk of my teaching career and one I am extremely grateful for.The PGS sports department was outstanding - always willing to go the extra mile to help pupils flourish and enjoy physical activity. We had lots of performance successes including victories in the ESAA Track and Field Cup Final, Lord’s Taverners’ Trophy and the School Sports Magazine U17 Cricket Cup. We also reached national finals in netball, hockey and rugby as well as regularly being named in School Sports Magazine’s Top 25 Independent School and twice by The Daily Telegraph as one of the top three UK Independent Schools. School Colours were awarded for both effort and achievement – in assembly we awarded Colours to Charlie Dean for her outstanding contribution to cricket and Verity Glading for completing her 100th Parkrun. We hosted a biannual Trees ceremony to commemorate exceptional individual and team performances. I initiated our annual Sports Dinner–pupils voted for their Players of the Year, captains gave speeches and we awarded The James Langrish Trophy to a pupil who had lived up to the schools’ values.I went on many sports tours including senior tours to Australia, South Africa, Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia; junior rugby to Club Correze and preseason athletics camps at Club La Santa. In 2017 the school granted me a sabbatical, I spent a term at The King’s School, Sydney.Former pupils have studied Sports Science at university and have gone on to become PE teachers, athletes or coaches, others tell me they love Parkrun, cycling or still take part in sport.

I spent half a term at The King's School on sabbatical teaching Physical Education, rugby and living in Gowan Brae (Year 7 Boarding House)

Head Coach and 1st XV coach at Newbury Rugby Club in National Division One/Championship.Having spent two years as assistant coach under Ben Ryan I was promoted to Head Coach in May 2007. We aimed to play an exciting brand of rugby and were the only team to secure a four try bonus point against Northampton Saints in their title winning season.

Pangbourne College was my first leadership role in a school and my first boarding experience. Pangbournians are typically hard working, fiercely loyal and great fun to work with. Richard Pike, Roger Cheeseman and I coached the 1st XV to the Daily Mail Cup semi final in 2001. Pangbourne has a rich rowing history and I enjoyed learning new skills with some great coaches including Alex Henshilwood, Don Somner, David Rendle and Rupert Bancroft. In 2003 our 1st VIII won the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at The Henley Royal Regatta; I had the honour of sitting in the launch with the best view on the river - it was a great day! I am still great friends with lots of OPs, many of whom are now sports teachers or coaches.

Whilst at KE Aston I was fortunate to have two great mentors in Dave Smart and Paul Mullan. I coached a range of sports and developed my Physical Education teaching. Dave and Paul introduced me to the ESAA Track and Field Cup, a fantastic team competition that I have championed throughout my career; KE Aston finished second in the National Final in 1998.

Thirty odd years ago I walked into my first classroom at Ashlawn School. As I turned to face the board to write my name I thought “what the hell am I doing!”. I need not have worried, as I turned around, I was greeted by lots of smiley faces and my love of teaching was ignited. Most of my Physical Education lessons at Ashlawn started with the boys running into crashmats in the gym – we came to an arrangement after a couple of weeks! I enjoyed teaching a range of sports and being a form tutor.Ashlawn was a fantastic first job for me. My Head of Department (Chris Shinner) was an excellent role model and Liz Cheney (my academic mentor) taught me many skills that I have used throughout my teaching career.