Kristy Howells

I joined CCCU in 2006, and I am a Reader in Sport Pedagogy and Physical Education, within Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences.

I have been at CCCU for over 16 years now and I chose my field of work of Sport Pedagogy as I wanted to make a difference to children's health levels specifically through encouraging physical activity and for children to know and understand more about their diet specifically fluid intake.

I also wanted to inspire and motivate the next generation of primary school teachers to be the best of the best at teaching Physical Education.

I can often been found when not lecturing or researching on wheels either skating on 8 wheels or on 2 wheels. I always wanted to be a role model in sport and still compete at national and international levels.

I have most recently won both a Silver medal (match sprint) and Bronze medal (time trial) in the 2022 World Masters Track Cycling Championships. Previously I have won European, World and National level medals and titles in track cycling, road racing and time trials, as well as triathlon.

I truly believe that Physical Education can change a child’s life and I would like to ensure that it stays a key and vital part of every child’s education. I have been lecturing and researching at CCCU since 2006 on our initial teacher education programmes of Early Years and Primary Education.

I specialize in Physical Development, Early Years and Physical Education. I supervise colleagues and practitioners who are researching Physical Education and Physical Activity at Masters and Doctorate level.

I am a two time winner of the University Teaching Excellence Award for my teaching and learning. I first one in 2012 for my trial blazing approach to teaching and learning for part time students and the support I had developed through the use of online learning. The second time I won was in 2021, when I made the "impossible possible", and developed ways to teach Physical Education online, whilst my programmes remained online throughout COVID-19 (for approximately 18 months).

I have also won 5 Golden Apple Awards, for my outstanding student support. These awards are run by the students and the Student Union.

I currently teach Physical Education on all Primary Education courses (level 4 - 7) within the Faculty of Education, and supervise all the Physical Education research elements of Primary Education.

I also teach Physical Development and Health Education. I also supervise Master's by Research and PhD students within Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences.

I supervise dissertation students within the Medical School and I supervise PhD students within the Faculty of Health. I supervise EdD and Master's by Research students within Faculty of Education.

I previously supervised the following students during their Masters by Research studies and undertaken internal examining of Masters:

Laura Power - What is impact of wellbeing on the physical activities of occupational therapy for a child with dyspraxia? (first supervisor).

Philip Lewis - An investigation into the place meaning of recreational climbers at an indoor rock climbing venue. (first supervisor).

Sasha Pay - Negotiating Sexuality within a Female University Football Team (senior supervisor).

Neil Castle - The effective use of competition as a pedagogical tool to develop confidence and competence (first supervisor).

Emily Milne - How can we prepare children for competition? (first supervisor).

Josh Williamson - 4 and 5 year olds understanding of fluid intake (first supervisor)

I have also supervised doctorate students to completion:

Helene Cohen - Emotions and School Inspection: An exploration of the way primary and preparatory school teachers in the state and independent sector experience Ofsted and ISI. (first supervisor).

My research expertise is in the field of physical activity interventions, physical activity and mental health, physical education, physical development as well as public health and children's diet and nutrition (specifically fluid intake).

My doctorate worked focused on children's physical activity levels that occurred within the primar school setting and the contribution Physical Education lessons make to children's overall measured physical activity levels within the school day.

It investigated children’s perceived level of physical activity and compared this with children’s physical activity measured by accelerometers. The majority of previous physical activity research has focused on secondary aged children and adults, with little on physical activity levels achieved by primary aged children within school time, or on the comparison between infants (6 – 7 year olds) and juniors (9 – 10 year olds).

Data were collected within a case study setting in one school, over one school year. 20 children, 10 infants and 10 juniors wore Actigraph accelerometers to record physical activity intensity levels throughout the school day. A repeated measures 3 factor ANOVA was used to analyse the effects of factors including the following: type of day (PE days / Non PE days); year group (infants / juniors); parts of the day (curriculum time / morning break / lunchtime / afternoon break) and gender (male / female). P values of <0.05 were taken as the value for statistical significance ± one standard deviation.

The findings revealed that children were more physically active on school days that included Physical Education lessons. Boys were more physically active at a moderate to vigorous level than girls. Junior boys were able to accumulate 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity within the school day on a day that included Physical Education lessons and in doing so reached the World Health Organisation's (WHO, 2010) recommendations for children’s physical activity within the school day. Children’s perceived physical activity levels matched their accelerometer recordings, in particular for junior boys during break time and for girls during Physical Education lessons.

My research interests include children's health, children's physical activity levels, physical eduaction, children's diet and nutrition specifically fluid and hydration. As well a teaching and learning within HE. My research outputs are accessible here: https://researchspace.canterbury.ac.uk/do/repository/outputs/researcher/80x47

Most recently I published a book on Mastering Primary Physical Education, with colleagues from my team - https://goo.gl/r5rx6Y

My thesis is accessible here - https://researchspace.canterbury.ac.uk/87486/the-contribution-of-the-primary-

Research Projects

‘How do we Prepare Children for Competition?’. Researcher(s): Miss Emily Milne. Supervisor(s): Mr Rich Little, Dr Kristy Howells. [Postgraduate Research Project (past)]
An investigation into how interventions can help support young children's physical development.. Researcher(s): Miss Ellie Huggett. Supervisor(s): Dr Kristy Howells, Dr Damian Coleman. [Postgraduate Research Project]
An investigation into positive sport coaching and physical education teaching relationships between coach and children vs teacher and children.. Researcher(s): Mr Cian Wells. Supervisor(s): Dr Kristy Howells, Dr Laura Gubby. [Postgraduate Research Project (past)]
An Investigation into Rugby Union players Knowledge and Understanding of Concussion. Researcher(s): Mr Daniel Bromley. Supervisor(s): Dr Kristy Howells, Dr Laura Gubby. [Postgraduate Research Project]
An investigation into the confidence and competence of Physical Education secondary teachers in the delivery of cognitive science strategies.. Researcher(s): Miss Paige Waldron. Supervisor(s): Dr Kristy Howells, Dr Laura Gubby, Dr Damian Coleman. [Postgraduate Research Project]
An Investigation into the Physical Education Experiences of Children with Autism. Researcher(s): Miss Maddy Chapman. Supervisor(s): Dr Laura Gubby, Dr Kristy Howells. [Postgraduate Research Project]
Aqualusa Revista Lusofona de Desportos Aquaticos. Researcher(s): Dr Kristy Howells. [Project report]
Challenging obesity bias and stigma in fitness professionals through virtual learning: a critical perspective. Researcher(s): Mr David Lee. Supervisor(s): Dr Kristy Howells, Dr Christopher Anderson. [Postgraduate Research Project]
Developing an accessible, individualised curriculum resource for PE teachers and support staff to facilitate inclusive PE for children with physical impairment in mainstream primary school. Researcher(s): Ms Margaret Gurr. Supervisor(s): Dr Kristy Howells, Professor Eleni Hatzidimitriadou. [Postgraduate Research Project]
Doctoral Research Project. Researcher(s): Dr Helene Cohen. Supervisor(s): Dr Kristy Howells, Dr Ruth Rogers. [Postgraduate Research Project (past)]
Doctoral Research Project. Researcher(s): Mr George Revell. Supervisor(s): Dr Gemma Van Vuuren-Cassar, Dr Kristy Howells. [Postgraduate Research Project (past)]
Doctoral Research Project. Researcher(s): Mr Neil Castle. Supervisor(s): Dr Kristy Howells, Dr Laura Gubby. [Postgraduate Research Project (past)]
Doctoral Research Project. Researcher(s): Mr Richard Little. Supervisor(s): Dr Kristy Howells, Dr Peter Gregory. [Postgraduate Research Project (past)]
Effective coaching interventions to improve communication, collaboration and confidence in people with a developmental disability. Researcher(s): Mr Joshua Russell. Supervisor(s): Dr Katie Dray, Dr Kristy Howells. [Postgraduate Research Project]
Health education, a new curriculum within primary education settings. Researcher(s): Mr MAX MASON. Supervisor(s): Dr Kristy Howells, Dr Damian Coleman. [Postgraduate Research Project]
How can Makaton be embedded in the School Community?. Researcher(s): Miss Katie Potts. Supervisor(s): Dr John-Paul Riordan, Dr Kristy Howells. [Postgraduate Research Project]
Impact upon specialist physical education training for teachers, with relation to their own professional development.. Researcher(s): Miss Charlotte Moore. Supervisor(s): Dr Laura Gubby, Dr Kristy Howells, Dr Damian Coleman. [Postgraduate Research Project]
Personalisation of physiotherapy care in chronic respiratory disease. Researcher(s): Ms Sarah O'Neill. Supervisor(s): Dr Kristy Howells, Dr Hayley Mills. [Postgraduate Research Project]
Teaching Swimming to SEND pupils, with a focus on ASD and Down Syndrome.. Researcher(s): Mr RICHARD SKIRVING. Supervisor(s): Dr Kristy Howells, Dr Laura Gubby. [Postgraduate Research Project]
The barriers of children (aged 7 – 11) being competitive.. Researcher(s): Mr George Bussey. Supervisor(s): Dr Laura Gubby, Dr Kristy Howells, Dr Damian Coleman. [Postgraduate Research Project]
The creation, modification, implementation, and assessment of a hydration education pack. To develop children's and teachers' knowledge and understanding of fluid intake.. Researcher(s): Mr Josh Williamson. Supervisor(s): Dr Kristy Howells, Dr Damian Coleman. [Postgraduate Research Project]
The exploration of the true self through creative therapeutics.. Researcher(s): Mr THOMAS DELAHUNT. Supervisor(s): Dr Kristy Howells, Dr Jonathan Barnes, Professor Eleni Hatzidimitriadou. [Postgraduate Research Project]
The importance of physical education in secondary education in promoting long term-physical activity. The differences in opportunities to play sport in different types of school.. Researcher(s): Miss MEGAN DORNAN. Supervisor(s): Dr Laura Gubby, Dr Kristy Howells. [Postgraduate Research Project]
The perceived impact of CPD on early career science teachers. Researcher(s): Mr Jamie Pout. Supervisor(s): Dr Kristy Howells, Dr Laura Gubby. [Postgraduate Research Project]

International Expert for Physical Education and Children’s Physical Activity - OECD, ICSSPE and UNESCO and FIEP

Howells K., and Sääkslahti, A. (2019) (eds) Physical Activity Recommendations For Early Childhood. An international analysis of 10 different countries’ current national physical activity policies and practices for those under the age of 5. In Federation Internationale D’education Phisique (FIEP, 2019) Physical Education in Early Childhood Education and Care: Researches – Best Practice Situation.

Invited to contribute to OECD Future of Education 2030 Position Paper, named on the list of contributors – published January 2018 https://www.oecd.org/education/2030/E2030%20Position%20Paper%20(05.04.2018).pdf

Acted as the England representative within the OECD: The Future of Education and Skills: Education 2030 – Physical Education Project. Named on list of contributors and published 2019 – OECD Future of Education 2030. Making Physical Education Dynamic and Inclusive for 2030. International Curriculum Analysis -

https://www.oecd.org/education/2030-project/contact/OECD_FUTURE_OF_EDUCATION_2030_MAKING_PHYSICAL_DYNAMIC_AND_INCLUSIVE_FOR_2030.pdf

Invited to attend and participate in the Think Tank as the Early Years expert for Physical Activity and Physical Education by the International Council of Physical Education and Sport and UNESCO, Germany, November 2017.

I am a board member of the International Association of Physical Education in Higher Education (AIESEP) as well as the secretary and co-lead of the Early Years Special Interest Group.

Active Engagement in Subject Associations

All Party Parliamentary Group on Fit and Healthy Childhood (2019 onwards)

BUCS physical activity research group (2019 onwards)

The Daily Mile Foundation Expert Research Steering Group (2018 onwards)

Contributed to the CIMSPA – Early Years Practitioner guidelines.

Early Years Physical Activity SIG AIESEP active UK member and Secretary (2016 onwards).

World Organisation for Early Childhood Education (OMEP) (2015 onwards).

Association for Physical Education (AfPE) South East Executive Group member (2014 onwards).

Honoured Speaker

Invited honoured speaker to present 3 key note speeches at the 5th China Early Childhood Education Conference & Early Childhood Education, to 15,000 participants.

International Principal Investigator for UK

Morgado L.D.S., De Martelaer K., D’Hondt E., Barnett L.M., Costa A.M., Howells K., Sääkslahti A., Jidovtseff B. (2020). Pictorial Scale of Perceived Water Competence: Manual Testing. 1^st Edition. Early Years SIG AIESEP.

Morgado, L.D.S, De Martelaer, K., Costa, A. M., Sääkslahti, A., Howells, K., Barnett, L., D'Hondt, E., Jidovtseff, B. (2019). Pictorial scale of perceived water competences. The building of a new tool adapted to the children. Presentation at the Healthy and active Children Meeting. September 2019, Verona, Italy.

Sporting Achievements:

Masters World Silver Medal Team Pursuit 2019.

National Indoor Rowing Bronze Medallist Lightweight 500m 2019.

Talented Athlete for Ashford Leisure Trust Talented Athlete Programme, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020.