School Sport and Physical Education (PE) Conference

Ali is Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust, an independent charity devoted to building a brighter future for young people through the power of sport.

Ali joined the Youth Sport Trust in 2004 as a member of the senior leadership team and became the CEO in 2015. Prior to this Ali was the Deputy Director of Sport at the University of Bath having joined as the course leader for the Physical Education Initial Teacher Training programme. Before this Ali was Head of PE at Millfield School, having started her career as teacher in Essex.

In 2019 Ali received an honorary doctorate from the University of Bath. She was recognized as the Best Leader (not for profit category) in the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies in 2020, and in the same year was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

In 2006, Paul became the youngest Headteacher in the country at Curwen Primary School, in the London Borough of Newham and within three short years had turned around the fortunes at the school, taking them from RI to Outstanding. The following years saw the Local Authority asking Paul to support other local primary schools and in 2017 three of these schools became the basis of The Tapscott Learning Trust, of which he is the CEO.

Externally, Paul supports schools in London and the East of England with school development, he sits on the DfE’s Primary Headteacher Reference Group and is a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching. Locally, Paul collaborates regularly with the Local Authority, chairing the High Needs Funding group and is part of committees that cover Admissions and Place Planning, Schools Forum, the Educational Partnership Board.

Paul is a past winner of the TES, Headteacher of the Year.

Kate is the new CEO of The Association for Physical Education having been Head of Physical Education and Achievement at Youth Sport, Director of Specialism and teacher of PE 13 years teaching in 4 secondary schools and working across 6 primary schools in the North West of England.

A driven educator, passionate about people and every child having the opportunity to be the best version of themselves. A committed physical educationalist who believes in every child accessing a well-structured and scaffolded curriculum delivered by knowledgeable, highly skilled, and enthusiastic teachers. Energetic, committed always seeking to improve. A firm believer in the transformative power of physical education and physical education for life in shaping lives.

Since joining Women in Sport in 2019 Steph has renewed the charity’s strategy based on its proud 40 year history and has developed the charity around its existing strengths in insights and research. As CEO she has been making sure the charity is tackling major policy issues, growing its influence in government and its partnerships in sport, whilst diversifying its people and its funding base.

Before Women in Sport, Steph was CEO of a major environment movement and campaigned on climate change and nature’s recovery. She is experienced in achieving legislative change and is a strong advocate for the outdoors, active living and teamsport. She is passionate about freeing up the lives of women and girls in all their diversity to experience the joy of sport.  She believes it is wrong that so many women and girls are missing out on the wellbeing, resilience and leadership skills sport can instil.

With over 25 years of experience in Physical Education, Gareth serves as the Trust Lead in PE for the Insignis Academy Trust, dedicated to enhancing participation and fostering inclusivity across the trust.  Throughout his career, Gareth has been a passionate advocate for raising standards in PE, believing that sport and physical activity should be accessible to all pupils regardless of their background.

Gareth’s leadership has been instrumental in designing and implementing programmes that prioritise engagement, well-being, and personal development for all students. He works closely with schools within the trust to ensure that every child has the opportunity to participate and benefit from high quality PE. Gareth is committed to breaking down barriers and empowering individuals through physical education.  His vision is to create a healthy, accessible, more active future for all.

As the Data and Insights Manager at the Muslim Sports Foundation and a PE Teacher at Jack Hunt School, I combine a passion for sport with a deep understanding of how data can drive inclusive change in education and sport.

My dual roles give me a unique perspective on both the grassroots level and strategic aspects of sports, physical activity, and PE.At the MSF, I lead initiatives to improve participation rates through data-driven insights, while at school, I’m hands-on in teaching and promoting physical activity among diverse student groups ranging from low socio economic, ethnically diverse and SEND students.

I have extensive experience working with underrepresented communities, particularly British Muslim communities, ensuring that sport is accessible to all, regardless of background, ability, or faith. My commitment to inclusion drives me to break down barriers and create environments where diversity is not only welcomed but celebrated. I bring a unique blend of expertise and passion, positioning me to lead meaningful change in addressing inequalities. By starting at the grassroots level in sport, physical activity, and education, and progressing toward influencing policy and practice, I am dedicated to reshaping the landscape to ensure equitable access for all.

Gary Palmer is a Strategic Lead for London Sport, managing a portfolio that includes Children and Young People, Funded Investment programmes and Executive Coaching and Mentoring. He has over 30 years’ experience of working in the sport and physical activity sector.

He has a wealth of experience from working with partners such as Sport England, the Active Partnership National Network, Department for Education, Department of Culture, Media and Sport, Greater London Authority, London Councils, and many London Local Authorities.

The current Chair of the Active Partnership Network National Children and Young People Advisory Board, he also serves on the National School Sport and Activity Sector Advisory group and is a Strategic Board member on Go! London, London’s biggest community sport investment programme.

Charlotte is the Head of School at Theale Green School, a mixed secondary comprehensive outside Reading, Berkshire.  Theale Green School, consecutive winners of the Youth Sports Trust platinum award, has “Well School”, placing student and staff well-being as a main strategic pillar for school improvement.  The school has a particular focus on sport, and the leadership & connections associated with physical exercise, at the heart of all it does.  This is led by a ground breaking PE department who use creative means to inspire their students to go out of their comfort zones.

Andy joined the Active Partnerships National Organisation, the national charity for the Active Partnerships network, as Chief Executive Officer in June 2022, having previously worked at The Football Association, Aston Villa Foundation and Burton Albion Community Trust.

Andy’s role as CEO is to provide strategic leadership in line with the organisation’s mission and vision and to ensure that the network is strengthened, enabled and connected by the work of his team.

Active Partnerships is a nationwide movement, physical activity and sport network that exists to help everyone to move more. Through more than 40 local organisations, the network takes a place-based approach to breaking down barriers and tackling inequalities, helping to make active lives the norm for everyone.

Mark is the National Player Pipeline Manager at England Rugby/RFU, looking after rugby union across schools, colleges, universities and age grade club game.  Mark has been at the RFU since 1993 in development roles starting from a local Youth Development Officer (in London) to Regional Manager (in Yorkshire) to National positions since 2006.  These countrywide roles have been directly involved with the schools and education sector, working with national partner organisations, rugby networks, fellow NGBs and the PE & Sport delivery system to support the growth and sustainability of sport and rugby for young people.

He remains involved in rugby union as a club volunteer, coach and referee; he also (after a 16 year gap) returned to playing in 2022, though still remains a little unsure how that actually happened!

Ali is Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust, an independent charity devoted to building a brighter future for young people through the power of sport.

Ali joined the Youth Sport Trust in 2004 as a member of the senior leadership team and became the CEO in 2015. Prior to this Ali was the Deputy Director of Sport at the University of Bath having joined as the course leader for the Physical Education Initial Teacher Training programme. Before this Ali was Head of PE at Millfield School, having started her career as teacher in Essex.

In 2019 Ali received an honorary doctorate from the University of Bath. She was recognized as the Best Leader (not for profit category) in the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies in 2020, and in the same year was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.