Helen's main specialism lies in Physical Education but also has a passion within the field of Sport Psychology after completing her MSc in this area in 2004. Professional experience includes teaching/lecturing Physical Education across Early Years, Primary, Secondary, Post-16, and Higher Education. Helen's teaching career began in a Specialist Sports College in the West Midlands, teaching Physical Education. She has taught in schools in the UK and Italy in an international school, with experience in delivering the International Baccalaureate and the UK National Curriculum. Currently, Helen is the programme leader for the Physical Education and School Sport undergraduate degree. She teaches and module leads on a range of practical and theoretical modules and has taught on a Top Up Degree at the Mauritius Branch Campus. Helen is actively involved in research and has collaborated with colleagues on a number of projects. She completed her Doctorate in Education, with a focus on listening to the gendered voices of primary boys in their experiences of dance, in 2022. Alongside completion of her doctorate, Helen wrote a chapter 

• Social Justice in Physical Education.
• Listening to the voices of children in educational settings. 
• The gendering of physical activity, sport, and Physical Education. 
• Mental Health - mindfulness as a tool for students in Higher Education
• Child-centered methodologies (Write, Draw, Show, Tell, Emoji)

• British Educational Research Association

• Association of Physical Education

• University and College Union

• BSc (Joint Hons) Psychology and Sport, Recreation, and Physical Education - (Liverpool Hope University, 2003).
• MSc Sport and Exercise Science (Sport and Exercise Psychology) - (Manchester Metropolitan University, 2004).
• PGCE Physical Education - (Newman University College, 2005).
• Mindful Meditation Teacher - (The UK College of  Mindfulness Meditation - 2021).
• Professional Doctorate in Education (University of Wolverhampton- 2022).

• O’Leary, N., Barber, A., & Keane, H. (2018) Physical education undergraduate students’ perceptions of their learning using the jigsaw learning method. European Physical Education Review, 1356336X18767302.
• Keane, H. (2021). Listening to the Voices of Boys in Dance. (Doctoral Thesis, University of Wolverhampton).
• Keane, H. (2022). Listening to Why Boys (Don’t) Dance: Creating Inclusive Dance Experiences for Boys. In D. Risner and B. Watson (eds.), Masculinity, Intersectionality, and Identity: Why Boys (Don’t) Dance. London: Palgrave MacMillan. *Recipient, 2023 Board of Governors Faculty Recognition Award, Wayne State University (US).  

• University of Wolverhampton: Programme Leader and Senior Lecturer in Physical Education and School Sport 2014–to date

• International School of Milan – Monza section: Physical Education Curriculum Leader 2010-2014.

• Our Lady and St Chad Catholic Sports College: Teacher of Physical Education i/c Student Empowerment through Leadership -  2005-2010.

Current appointment [April 2014]

Programme Leader and Senior Lecturer in Physical Education and School Sport

Helen teaches across Levels 4 to 6 on the BA (Hons) Physical Education degree.  Helen's roles include teaching and leading a range of modules, including employability-focused, aesthetic activities, event management, and applied pedagogical studies. She is also a dissertation supervisor for undergraduate degrees and a director of studies for doctoral students.