Dr Nick O'Leary

Biographical Summary

Dr Nick O'Leary trained as a secondary teacher with a specialism in PE (and history as a second subject) at St. Luke’s College, University of Exeter. He taught in Secondary schools for a total of 18 years in London, Bath, Calne, Whitley Bay and finally Brighton, where he was Head of Department.

Along the way Nick completed an M.Ed at the University of Newcastle and developed an interest in basketball which he has keenly pursued, rising to the level of England Senior Basketball Coach. He is also an England Basketball Course Tutor and Executive Officer of the Basketball Coaches Association.

He has been Course Leader and Senior Lecturer in PE at the University of Wolverhampton for 12 years. Nick completed an Ed.D at the University of Bath in 2012.

On a personal note Nick takes a keen interest in the Boston Celtics and Arsenal FC. He enjoys travelling, reading and jogging in his spare time. He is married to Sharon and has three children, Aidan, Amy and Anna.

Teaching responsibilities

• 6SR014: Employability and Enterprise: Applied Secondary Pedagogical Studies
• 6SR013: Secondary Practical Studies: Aesthetic and Problem-Solving Activities
• 6SR011: Secondary Practical Studies: Games and Athletic Activities 5SR016: Curriculum Issues in Physical Education
• 5SR015: Child Development through Physical Education: The Primary Years
• 4SR012: Child Development through Physical Education: The Early Years
• 4SR009: Introduction to Teaching and Coaching

Non-teaching responsibilities

• Physical Education Course Leader responsible for recruitment, retention and monitoring of the course
• Member of Sport Culture and Physical Education Research Group
• Member of the SSPAL Health and Safety Committee
• In charge of the purchase of student sports kit

Research interests

Nick's research interests primarily lie around the influence of occupational socialisation upon Physical Education teachers. In particular he is interested in how current and past experiences influence how teachers interpret and teach various aspects of the Physical Education curriculum.

Qualifications

• 2012: Ed.D University of Bath
• 1996: M.Ed. University of Newcastle
• 1985: B.Ed (Hons.) University of Exeter

Employment history

• 2001–to date: University of Wolverhampton: Course Leader and Senior Lecturer in Physical Education
• 1998-2000: Longhill High School: Head of Physical Education
• 1990-1997: Whitley Bay High School: In Charge of Boys Physical Education
• 1988-1990: The John Bentley School: Physical Education Teacher
• 1986-1988: International School of Choueifat: Physical Education Teacher/Sports Coach
• 1985-1986: Whitmore High School: P.E. Teacher

Selected publications

• O’Leary, N. (2011) Outwitting Teachers: Issues in adopting and using Teaching Games for Understanding. Physical Education Matters, 6(3), pp.52-55.
• O’Leary, N. (2011) The Value of Teaching Games for Understanding. Physical Education Matters, 6(2), pp.20-23.
• Griggs, G. & O’Leary, N. (2010) Come together: The journeys of second career researchers. Research Intelligence, 109, p.09.
• O’Leary, N. & Griggs, G. (2010) Researching the pieces of a puzzle: The use of a jigsaw learning approach in the delivery of undergraduate gymnastics. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 34(1), pp.73-81.
• O’Leary, N. (2010) Learning Approaches for Coaches. Coaching Edge: Quarterly Journal of Sports Coach U.K., 18, pp.20-21.
• O’Leary, N. & Griggs, G. (2009) How and what do you teach in jogging lessons? Physical Education Matters, 4(2), pp.19-22.
• O’Leary, N. (2008) Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU) in Learning to ‘Outwit Opponents’: The relationship between Principles of Play and Practical Skills. Physical Education Matters, 3(4), pp.18-20.
• O’Leary, N. (2008) The use of Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU) in Learning to ‘Outwit Opponents’. Physical Education Matters, 3(1), pp.16-20.

Selected conference presentations

• O’Leary, N. (2012) The influence of occupational socialisation upon a first-year physical education teacher's use of Teaching Games for Understanding. Paper presented at British Educational Research Association (BERA) Conference at University of Manchester, September 4-6, 2012.
• O’Leary, N. (2011) The influence of occupational socialisation theory on Physical Education teachers’ interpretation and delivery of net games using the Teaching Games for Understanding model. Paper presented at the Social Science for Social Justice: Generating a Contribution Conference at the University of Bath, July 7th, 2011.
• O’Leary, N. (2011) The influence of occupational socialisation theory on Physical Education teachers’ interpretation and delivery of net games using the Teaching Games for Understanding model. Paper presented at the Meeting of Minds Conference at the University of Bath, June 9th, 2011.
• O’Leary, N. (2010) The influence of occupational socialization theory on Physical Education (PE) teachers’ interpretation and delivery of Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU). Paper presented at the Transforming Learning Spaces: Making the Pedagogical more Political Conference at the University of Bath, July 1, 2010.
• O’Leary, N. & Griggs, G. (2009) The use of a jigsaw learning approach in the delivery of undergraduate gymnastics. Paper presented at British Educational Research Association (BERA) Conference at University of Manchester, September 2-5, 2009.
• O’Leary, N. (2009) Plenty of outputs but is it any good: an examination of an Ed.D research study. Paper presented at the Southern Universities Alliance for Doctoral Education (SUADE) Professional Doctorate Conference at the University of Brighton, April 17, 2009.

Selected web-based publications

• O’Leary, N. (2009) An abridged player development programme. Basketball Coaches Association (BCA) [online] 19 Jan. Accessed at: http://www.bcauk.org.uk/
• O’Leary, N. (2008) If you want a balanced shot put some responsibility on players’ (and coaches) shoulders. Basketball Coaches Association (BCA) [online] 21 Nov. Accessed at: http://www.bcauk.org.uk/
• O’Leary, N. (2008) ‘Coaching Basketball for Understanding’: The relationship between Principles of Play and Practical Skills. Basketball Coaches Association (BCA) [online] 04 July. Accessed at: http://www.bcauk.com/
• O’Leary, N. (2008) The sorry state of English basketball fundamentals: it’s a matter of FOCUS! Basketball Coaches Association (BCA) [online] 1 Apr. Accessed at: http://www.bcauk.com/
• O’Leary, N. (2007) Basketball is a decision-making game: an example of HOW to coach decision-making! Basketball Coaches Association (BCA) [online] 15 Nov. Accessed at: http://www.bcauk.com/
• O’Leary, N. (2007) Basketball is a decision-making game; let’s coach good decision-making! Basketball Coaches Association (BCA) [online] 10 Nov. Accessed at: http://www.bcauk.com/
• O’Leary, N. (2007) Learning and learning approaches in coaching. Basketball Coaches Association (BCA) [online] 10 Nov. Accessed at: http://www.bcauk.com/
• O’Leary, N. (2007) The seven deadly ‘sins’ of the beginner and/or inexperienced coach (and more importantly, some solutions). Basketball Coaches Association (BCA) [online] 1 Oct. Accessed at: http://www.bcauk.com/

Press articles

• Times Higher Education: Foundation for teachers book: 11-17 June, 2009 1(900).
• Nick nets new book: University of Wolverhampton: 27 March 2009
• Lecturer cook-a-hoop over new book: Express and Star's Walsall edition on 20th March 2009
• CHS PE class goes long distance: Carroll Daily Times Herald on 5th December 2008
• Lessons across the Atlantic: Smooth FM Radio: 1st December 2008
• Teacher’s web link to Iowa pupils: Express and Star's Walsall edition on 28th November 2008

Consultancy

Nick has been asked by Sport Structures, a nationally recognised sports management consultancy company to write and launch a national qualification to aid sports coaches understanding and coaching of games in 2012.

Income generation

2009: Funding from the Centre for Learning and Teaching for a collaborative project developing jigsaw learning in Physical Education (£3000)

Membership of professional associations

• British Educational Research Association (BERA)
• Association for Physical Education (AfPE)
• Basketball Coaches Association (BCA) Executive Officer