Get to know our Conference speakers – David Richardson
Our Whole Child, Whole School, Whole You Conference takes place in one month, so let’s carry on introducing you to our guest speakers who will be looking to pioneer change.
The virtual conference will take place on Zoom on Friday 26th February 2021 and is for anyone in the sport, education, health and leisure industry that want to do things differently.
The event will feature a host of speakers who will help you with the tools needed to drive forward Physical Education and positive health.
David Richardson Sunnyfields Primary School
Headteacher David qualified as a teacher in 2001, choosing to specialise in Primary PE delivery as part of his initial teacher training.
Starting his career in Leeds, before moving to Wakefield and then Doncaster, David has worked as a PE Coordinator and School Sports Coordinator for several years prior to headship.
He believes that leadership is best enacted through leading by example and working alongside staff. He states: “It is hard to lead from the bench, you need to get on the pitch to experience the reality of the game.”
Focus of Leadership
All too often the demands of leadership mean that you can get caught behind a desk, buried under the paperwork and forget about why you came into the job.
David believes it’s all about visible leadership, getting off of the bench and into the game.
He said: “In terms of Active Fusion engaging with our staff, upskilling them and providing them with training, opportunities to network and work with other colleagues is a huge thing at the moment, certainly now in terms of Education generally.
“The health and wellbeing of children is so important.”
Empowering PE
The Sunnyfields headteacher has been involved with Active Fusion for quite some time, having been a guest at the 2020 conference and a regular advocate of the charity’s work.
David has worked closely alongside Jamie Macconnachie, PE Coordinator at Sunnyfields, to empower him to make strategic and operational decisions that ensure that the PE Sports Premium has a legacy impact while also building memorable and unique learning experiences for the children.
Throughout his workshop, David will share his experience of leading a school from little sport/PE take up to a school that invests heavily in this curriculum and extracurricular area.
Active Fusion are a charity striving to enable children and young people in Yorkshire to be physically active, through its delivery of high-quality Physical Education lessons in schools and by giving young people the opportunity to enhance their qualifications, confidence and communication through sports leadership and apprenticeship opportunities.