A Conversation With... Mr Dan Bradley

In this week's 'A Conversation With... ' we talk to Head of PE and Physical Wellbeing, Mr Dan Bradley, who joined Shiplake at the beginning of the third lockdown in January this year. Since we have been back Mr Bradley has busy teaching PE lessons, organising this term's fixtures and Saturday sport as well as putting in plans for PE and sport moving forward from September. In his spare time, he enjoys playing cricket and golf, as well as cycling and tending his allotment.

When did you join Shiplake and what is your role?

I started on 4 January 2021, but by that evening we were in lockdown, so my first ‘real’ day was 8 March. I am Head of PE and Physical Wellbeing - that means that I oversee the academic courses for PE, physical education lessons and school games afternoons, as well as competitive school sport at Shiplake.

Where were you previously?

I have taught in the grammar school system in High Wycombe for the last 13 years; firstly at The Royal Grammar School and more recently John Hampden Grammar School. Prior to that I lived in Cambridge, working at The Perse School.

What is the best thing about Shiplake?

Coming from High Wycombe and having our sports pitches right next to the M40 was dreadfully noisy, so teaching in Shiplake’s beautiful grounds has to be right up there. That and the staff coffee machine! 

What inspired you to become a PE teacher and what do you love most about your job?

I have always loved sport, the competitiveness and sociable nature of it. To me teaching allowed me to be amongst people and to try to get those people to strive to be better than they were yesterday, so that is my inspiration. I love being out on the field with a team coaching games and preparing that team for Saturday’s match, but I am equally happy teaching a PE class how to play a sport for the first time.

What does a typical day look like for you at Shiplake?

Honestly no day is the same, another thing I love about teaching! 

Normally it starts with seeing my form, then it is into academic teaching in the classroom. An hour or two of admin time is usually followed by games teaching in the afternoon. However this can be broken up by various one offs such as; organising sports photos, re-designing the sports hall space, organising lifeguard courses for teachers or planning a new curriculum map, but sometimes it is just sorting out the lost property, pumping up balls and colour coordinating my cones! 

What are your plans for sport and physical wellbeing at Shiplake from September, when things are hopefully back to normal?

I want to make sports fixtures a significant part of every pupil's weekly school life, ensuring these are highly regular and suitable for all - we have all missed them so much. Furthermore ensuring those who are not part of that term's ‘main’ sport have an offering that inspires them to participate and get active. I am passionate at redesigning the PE curriculum in the junior years to ensure it is fit for purpose and based on fundamental movement skills which underpin a life long love for sport and activity.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I play cricket and golf and I cycle my road bike. Outside of sport I enjoy my allotment and spending time around the village I live in. We have an amazingly sociable set of neighbours and the village pub has a wonderful game called ‘aunt sally’ that is played every Friday in the summer. Though most of my free time is with my 6 and 8 year old children and my allotment is mainly weeds!   

What are your plans for the summer?

I should be camping in France and enjoying the seaside, however this is looking unlikely due to the restrictions. I will be on holiday three weeks before my wife (also a teacher) I think she has a list of ‘house jobs’ for me! I will definitely spend some time watching some live cricket and doing nothing more than sitting and watching the world go past. There is also the small matter of a Lions Tour to watch on TV! 

What does the future hold for Mr Bradley?

I don’t tend to plan too far ahead. I love where I am and what I am doing. I don’t think it is too healthy to always be looking at what’s next, let's get today taken care of first and if I keep doing things well, the future will unfold accordingly.