THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL AT LEEDS SPONSORED PHD STUDENTSHIP IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CARNEGIE SCHOOL OF SPORT, LEEDS BECKETT UNIVERSITY

Funding will consist of UK full tuition fees for three years and the award of a living stipend at UK Research Council rates (£15,609 per annum pro-rata into 12 monthly payments). Funding will be subject to satisfactory progress.

A laptop will be provided and the opportunity to apply for funding to support the research project.

Candidates are encouraged to apply to one of two advertised projects

Project 1 Title: Long-Term Athletic Development within Schools: Evaluating Interventions

Supervisory team:  Prof Kevin Till; Professor David Morley

There is a global concern surrounding the current lifestyle behaviours and future health and well-being of youth with levels of physical activity, aerobic and muscular fitness in youth declining (Sandercock & Cohen, 2019). These trends may be occurring due to (1) a perceived lack of value and misunderstanding of promoting health through skill-related components of physical fitness; (2) a tendency for youth activities to focus on sport-specific skills and competition; and (3) school timetabling implementing ‘health and fitness’ at limited time points each year Lloyd et al., 2015; Baker, 2015). To support the development of health and fitness, recent recommendations have supported the implementation and integration of long-term athletic development programmes within schools (Till et al., 2021). Long-term athletic development is defined as the habitual development of athleticism over time to improve health and fitness, enhance physical performance, reduce the relative risk of injury, and develop the confidence and competence of all youth (Lloyd et al., 2016). Athleticism is the ability to repeatedly perform a range of movements with precision and confidence in a variety of environments requiring competent levels of motor skill, strength, power, speed, agility, balance, coordination and endurance (Lloyd et al., 2015). Such an approach may be vital to overcome existing health concerns and promote future successful sports performance. Recent strategies and athletic development programmes have been proposed (i.e., Movement Orientated Games Based Assessment; Morley et al., 2021; RAMPAGE; Till et al., 2021) to support long-term athletic development. However, limited research exists evaluating the implementation of such long-term athletic development programmes within schools. It is envisaged that this project will design and develop athletic development programmes and evaluate the implementation through a monitoring and evaluation tool.

Project 2 Title: Physical Education Curriculum Reform, Enrichment, and Transitions

Supervisory team: Prof Kevin Till; Professor David Morley

The National Curriculum for Physical Education (NCPE) (DfE, 2013) aims to ensure all pupils 1) develop competence to excel in a broad range of physical activities, 2) are physically active for sustained periods of time, 3) engage in competitive sports and activities, and 4) lead healthy, active lives. There is an accepted need to consider the relevance of the PE curriculum to children’s and adolescent’s developmental stage and their preparedness for transition to adulthood (Penney & Chandler 2000; Kitchin & O’Sullivan, 1999). However, the majority of this research is dated and whilst the use of models-based instruction (e.g. Teaching Games for Understanding (Penney 2012; Stolz & Pill, 2014), Sport Education (Evangelio et al., 2018)) has experienced some small-scale use and success, there is limited evidence to suggest any new PE curriculum approaches heralds curriculum reform that signifies a marked deviation from the traditional use of sports-based, (areas of activity) focussed curricula (O’Connor & Penney, 2021).

One of the key dilemmas experienced in schools is using the most relevant and developmentally appropriate curricula to support key transitions; (e.g., primary school to secondary school; secondary school to further study/employment). In PE terms, the transition from primary school includes, according to the UK’s NCPE, a focus on the application, refinement, and adaptation of fundamental movement skills into more complex movements which might then be used in examples of specific sports (DfE, 2013). Whilst this curriculum policy perspective is clear enough, it is evident that the secondary school PE curriculum is dominated by a traditional approach which sees compartmentalised, sport-based approaches to design and delivery (Penney & Chandler, 2000).

It is envisaged that this project will explore GSAL’s curriculum reform and support the development and evaluation of intervention(s), for instance movement (i.e., Move to Sport, Movement-Oriented Games Based Assessment [MOGBA]; Morley et al., 2021) and themed-based approaches to delivery, within a newly designed curriculum aimed at supporting transitions more effectively.  

Applicants are encouraged to discuss their proposals and the project with; Professor Kevin Till (K.Till@leedsbeckett.ac.uk), Professor David Morley (David.Morley@leedsbeckett.ac.uk) and Kevin Shattock (Head of Athletic Development at GSAL; kevin.shattock@gsal.org.uk)

As part of your application, please provide a CV, cover letter and research proposal. The proposal should align to the above theme and include a brief literature review related to this project, with an outline of the studies that you would propose to the answer the aims of the PhD (maximum 5 pages single spaced).

We can only consider complete applications. The research degree application is complete once you have uploaded all of the following:

1. Your application form (include the project reference GSAL)
2. Your research proposal, statement of purpose and CV on the Research proposal template
3. Copies of your bachelors and master certificates, including transcripts
4. Copy of your IELTS (or equivalent) certificate (if applicable) further information can be found on our Graduate School FAQs
5. Copy of your passport

Email the documentation above) to researchadmissions@leedsbeckett.ac.uk 

The deadline for applications is midnight on 20th June 2022

Candidates must be available for interview 8th July 2022