Dr Andrew Sprake
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Dr Andrew Sprake teaches across a range of modules on the BA (Hons) Sport and Physical Education course, including the sociological, political and philosophical dimensions of Physical Education and Sport. He is the Course Leader for the Masters in Physical Education and Leadership and leads the research modules at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Andrew is on a range of Postgraduate research supervisory teams, including PhD, PhD-by-Portfolio and Professional Doctorate routes.
Andrew is a qualified Teacher of Secondary Physical Education and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, meaning he is well-positioned to teach both undergraduate and postgraduate students. In 2022, Andrew completed his PhD entitled: The Place of Learning and Literacy in Physical Education, in which he explored Physical Education culture and creative pedagogy while drawing on a wide range of qualitative research methods.
Andrew has 25+ publications in Physical Education and Sport in academic journals and across various platforms, including the European Physical Education Review, the International Council of Sports Science and Physical Education, the Journal of Qualitative Research in Sports Studies, the International Federation for Physical and Sports Education (FIEPS), The Conversation and PE Matters. Andrew is an Executive Committee Member of the North Western Counties PE Association (NWCPEA), the English National Delegate for the International Federation for Physical and Sports Education (FIEPS), a member of the International Editorial Advisory Board for the European Physical Education Review (EPER), and a member of the International Physical Literacy Association’s (IPLA) Special Interest Group for Education. Andrew's commitment to providing high-quality learning and teaching has been recognised nationally and internationally, through various conferences, events and publications. This includes, but is not limited to, the Higher Education Academy, the Staff and Educational Development Association (SEDA), BETT, JISC, the Centre of Excellence for Learning and Teaching, as well as Microsoft Industry Blogs.
As a UCLan graduate himself, Andrew went on to complete his Initial Teacher Training in 2013 at Liverpool John Moores University, where he graduated with Distinction. From here, he became a Teacher of Secondary Physical Education and was soon given additional teaching and learning responsibilities. Andrew was very keen to utilise the power of pupil voice to transform his teaching, something which eventually brought him back to UCLan. Now as a Lecturer in Sport and Physical Education and Course Leader for the Masters in Physical Education and Leadership, Andrew is committed to providing high-quality teaching, learning and staff development in Higher Education. To this end, his work on feedback practices and digitally enabled learning has had a positive impact upon the Higher Education sector. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Association and is actively supporting various staff development initiatives, both within and external to the University.
- PhD entitled: The Place of Learning and Literacy in Physical Education - University of Central Lancashire, 2022
- PGCE in Secondary Physical Education, Liverpool John Moores University, 2013
- BA (Hons) Sports Studies, University of Central Lancashire, 2012
- Sociological Issues in Physical Education and Sport
- Teacher Socialisation in Physical Education
- The Micropolitics of Educational Leadership
- Initial Teacher Education (ITE) and Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE)
- Supervisor-Student Role Perceptions in Postgraduate Research
- Epistemology
- Qualitative Research Methodologies (e.g., ethnographic visiting, visual methods, ethnodrama)
- North Western Counties PE Association (NWCPEA) - Executive Committee Member
- International Federation for Physical and Sports Education (FIEPS) - English National Delegate
- European Physical Education Review (EPER) - International Editorial Advisory Board Member
- International Physical Literacy Association (IPLA) - Special Interest Group for Education Member
- Higher Education Academy – Fellow
- School Governor (North West)
Andrew has 25+ publications in Physical Education and Sport, ranging from creative pedagogies and student voice in Physical Education to philosophical issues in sport and Physical Education. His PhD, titled The Place of Learning and Literacy in Physical Education challenged traditional pedagogical practices in Physical Education and explored the role of literacy for learning and meaning-making in the PE context. Andrew is research-active in the sociocultural domain education, including teacher socialisation, the micropolitics of educational leadership and, in the Higher Education context, is investigating the student-supervisor role perceptions for both undergraduate and postgraduate research.
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- Andrew is an active member of the Research Centre for Applied Sport, Physical Activity and Performance.
- Andrew also serves on the International Editorial Advisory Board for the European Physical Education Review.
- Teacher socialisation (with a focus on high school pupils’ and pre-service teachers’ experiences of acculturation).
- The micropolitics of educational leadership.
- Student-supervisor role perceptions in both undergraduate and postgraduate research supervision.
- The role of epistemology in teachers’ propensity to change.
- The development of women’s visually impaired football in England.
- Qualitative methodologies in physical education and sport research.
- Sprake, A. and Slater, C. (2023). The Use of Podcasts for Assessment in Higher Education. Presented at the UCLan Learning and Teaching Conference, UCLan, Preston, June 2023.
- Pryle, J., Keeling, J., Sprake, A., Lee, D. and Palmer, C. (2020) LA lingo: a view from the cricket commentary box. Public Engagement and Performance Conference "Flesh Out – Connections". The Hepworth, Wakefield, Yorkshire. 20th - 21st March.
- Sprake, A., Keeling, J., Lee, D., Pryle, J. and Palmer, C. (2020) ‘Homework, in PE! Are you ‘avin’ a laugh?’ Public Engagement and Performance Conference "Flesh Out – Connections". The Hepworth, Wakefield, Yorkshire. 20th -21st March.
- Keeling, J., Sprake, A., Pryle, J., Lee, D. and Palmer, C. (2020) Tainted love: research in rugby league. Public Engagement and Performance Conference "Flesh Out – Connections". The Hepworth, Wakefield, Yorkshire. 20th - 21st March.
- Lee, D., Palmer, C., Keeling, J., Sprake, A. and Pryle, J., (2020) Hatch, match and dispatch: corporeal ceremonies in the mud. Public Engagement and Performance Conference "Flesh Out – Connections". The Hepworth, Wakefield, Yorkshire. 20th - 21st March.
- Sprake, A. (2020). Feedback to the Future. Presentation for the Centre of Excellence in Learning and Teaching, UCLan. 12th February, 2020.
- Sprake, A., Palmer, C. & Grecic, D. (2020). Physical Education: the allegory of the classroom. Presentation at the 6th International Health and Wellbeing Research with Impact Conference. University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK. Tuesday 18th February.
- Palmer, C., Byrom, A., Grecic, D., Pryle, J., McGregor, K., Sprake, A., Wilkinson, S., Massaro, D., Keeling, J., Dransfield, F., Whall, R., Wragg, J. and Lee, D. (2020) Promoting staff as active learners – co-producers of CPD for research in Sport and Health. Presentation at the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing Research Away Day. University of Central Lancashire, Westleigh Conference Centre, Preston, UK. Tuesday 11th February.
- Palmer, C. and Sprake, A. (2019). “Andy – tell us a story”. Going public with literacy: publication as an agent for change across the learning landscape. Discussion Paper at: SEDA Staff and Educational Development Association Annual Conference. Belfast, NI, 9th -10th May.
- Sprake, A. (2017). ‘Encouraging students to engage with feedback’, presented at the 2nd UCLan Learning and Teaching Faculty Conference - 2nd Nov, 2017.
- Sprake, A. (2017). ‘Physical Education or Physical Entertainment: where’s the education in PE?’, presented at The International Congress of the Fédération Internationale D´Éducation Physique, Luxembourg, 31.8.2017.
- Sprake, A. (2017). ‘The Place of Learning and Literacy in Physical Education’, presented at the UCLan Winter Workshop, Burnley Campus, January 2017.
- Sprake, A. (2017). ‘Too Close for Comfort: collecting data from those who are close to home’, presented at Cultivating Data: Field Research Methods in Sport, UCLan, June 2017.
- Sprake, A. (2016). ‘Physical Education: life in the relegation zone’, presented at Moving Stories – Stories on the Move, UCLan, June 2016.
- Sprake, A. (2013). ‘Strike While the Iron is Hot: the duty of physical education to capitalize on its compulsory position with a holistic curriculum underpinned by physical literacy’, presented at the International Physical Literacy Conference, Wyboston Lakes Training Centre, 12th June, 2013.
Telephone:01772894563
Email: Email:Dr Andrew Sprake
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