Francis Dockerty
Lecturer in Primary Education
Primary Education
email: f.dockerty@worc.ac.uk
Fran is the Subject Lead for Primary Physical Education and Cohort Lead for the PGCE Primary PE pathway. He joined the department in 2021 after a successful career in primary teaching where Fran was subject lead for PE and a regular mentor for trainee teachers from the ºüÀêÊÓƵ of Worcester. In 2023, Fran was part of the primary Initial Teacher Education (ITE) team, which earned an 'Outstanding' rating from Ofsted, with Physical Education being one of the areas of interest.
Fran holds a Master's degree in Educational Leadership, where his research focused on areas such as school leadership, mentoring and coaching, and effective subject leadership. Currently, Fran is in the thesis stage of his Doctorate in Education, concentrating on professional development for effective subject leadership in Primary Physical Education. As part of his doctoral studies, Fran has delved into various topics related to Primary Physical Education including child obesity, philosophy of Physical Education and models-based pedagogy in Physical Education.
Qualifications
- MEd: Masters in Educational Leadership
- Post Graduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education
- Post Graduate Certificate in Education: Primary Education
- Level 5 Certificate in Primary Physical Education Specialism
- BA: Education Studies
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2023)
Teaching & Research
Teaching Interests
- Primary PE
- Primary PE leadership
- Teachers as researchers
- Subject specific pedagogy
Research Interests
- Professional development for effective subject leadership in PE
- Childhood obesity and physical activity in children
- Primary PE pedagogy
- Subject leadership
Professional Bodies
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2023)
External Roles
School governor for a primary school in Worcestershire
Publications
Pritchard, R., & Dockerty, F. (2024) Game on! Enhancing primary physical education through a Rosenshine-inspired approach, Curriculum Studies in Health and Physical Education, DOI:
Dockerty, F., & Pritchard, R. (2023) Reconsidering models-based practice in primary physical education, Education 3-13, DOI: