About the lecture
Once the foundation of many sport, exercise and health science departments in higher education, Physical Education (PE) is now increasingly marginalised.
Professor Casey’s lecture challenges that trajectory. He asks why PE, once central to the academic identity of these disciplines, has been displaced in favour of “hard science” and more quantifiable paradigms – and what this means for the future of his field.
Drawing on research, policy and personal experience, he argues that the dual pressures of academic drift – through the rise of kinesiology and lab-based research – and the devaluing of PE in schools as non-academic or “soft science” have led to its slow erasure from the core of university life.
In doing so, he believes, we risk losing not only a vital educational discourse but also the pedagogical, social and ethical contributions PE offers.
He says: “For me, PE was never just a break from learning. It was where learning began. As someone who struggled in traditional academic spaces, PE gave me a place to be – and a way to become. It ultimately led me into academic life.”
This lecture is both critique and celebration: a reminder that Physical Education is not a footnote, but rather a vital form of study and a place of real possibility.
About the lecturer
Professor Ashley Casey (aka Ash) is the University’s Director of Teacher Education. He is Editor-in-Chief of Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy and was selected as the Scholar Lecturer 2024 by the British Educational Research Association (BERA).
In 2023, he was awarded the prestigious National Teaching Fellowship title by Advance HE in recognition of his sustained excellence and leadership in teaching and learning.
Ash is internationally recognised for his work on models-based practice (MbP) in Physical Education (PE). His research is widely cited and used to inform teaching in primary, secondary and higher education contexts globally.
He has authored multiple books, edited influential volumes and published extensively in high-impact journals. His work has attracted significant funding and led to successful collaborations across Europe, Asia and North America.
A former secondary school PE teacher, Ash brings deep practical knowledge to his academic work. He has supervised numerous PhD students to completion and regularly delivers keynote addresses and guest lectures worldwide.
His work focuses on bridging research and practice – and he continues to shape policy, curriculum and professional development in PE through research, scholarship and public engagement.
For further information on this lecture, please contact the Events team.
