Learning, health and performance go hand in hand if you ask Gavin. Whether he’s coaching, teaching, researching mental health, or squeezing in a competitive game of badminton, he believes that staying active and continually developing your knowledge is the key to success.
At Ludlow Sixth Form College, Gavin teaches A Level PE, Level 3 Health & Social Care and the Level 5 Learning and Skills Teacher Apprenticeship. Before entering education, he worked as an Operations Manager for a leisure company, overseeing five sites across Shropshire. Although teaching had always been part of his long-term plan, his career in the leisure industry provided valuable experience in leadership, training and people development. Working as a first aid and lifeguard trainer allowed him to indulge his passion for teaching before eventually retraining and moving into the classroom full time.
Gavin studied Sport, Health and Exercise Science at Bangor University, specialising in physiology and immunology. He was fascinated by the science behind elite performance and the research that helps athletes progress from grassroots participation to the highest levels of competition. His work with the military also provided a unique insight into how both the body and mind can be pushed to their limits. This knowledge has proved invaluable, not only in his teaching career, but also in supporting family members, colleagues and students with their health and wellbeing.
A firm believer that teachers should never stop learning, Gavin recently completed a Master’s degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology, with a research focus on mental health in netball. The qualification has enhanced his work across PE, Health & Social Care and his wider coaching responsibilities, particularly when helping students understand the importance of mental wellbeing throughout life.
Outside of work, Gavin practises what he preaches by staying active. While he may have swapped 11-a-side football for 5-a-side these days, he still plays twice a week, alongside regular badminton and running events. Much of his remaining free time is spent supporting his children’s sporting activities, often finding himself drafted in to officiate netball matches. Alongside sport, he is always reading, researching and exploring new ideas across education, health, psychology and anything else that sparks his curiosity.
Fun fact: Gavin was once a talented sprinter, recording a 100m personal best of 11.62 seconds. It might not quite rival Usain Bolt’s 9.58 second world record, but it’s considerably faster than most people realise, look it up!
