In Conversation With Mrs Humphreys banner from Sports Directory discussing inclusive school PE: “All children should be able to access PE lessons and be successful.” Red, white, and blue design with bold text and stars.

In conversation with... Mrs Humphreys

We’re thrilled to continue our teacher interview series with Lucy Humphreys, an inspiring PE Lead who’s passionate about making physical education accessible, engaging, and meaningful for every child.

Lucy has spent over a decade championing the importance of PE in schools, working tirelessly to raise its profile and show colleagues that it’s far more than “just running around.” As both a PE Lead and SENCO, she brings a unique perspective on adaptive teaching, ensuring every pupil - regardless of ability - can succeed and enjoy movement.

Her approach is all about fun, skill-building, and inclusivity. Whether she’s finding creative ways to engage reluctant learners, advocating for protected PE time in the curriculum, or introducing innovative activities like Boccia and Kurling on rainy days, Lucy’s commitment shines through.

We caught up with Lucy to hear her thoughts on why PE matters now more than ever, the challenges teachers face, and the small changes that make a big difference to inclusion and confidence.

Can you walk us through your career journey so far?

I’ve wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember and have always loved working with children, so it was a no-brainer for me. The changes in society (such as childhood obesity and more children choosing to play on devices indoors rather than outdoors) have led me to become passionate about children’s physical health, so when the opportunity arose at my school to take on the PE lead role, I was more than happy to take it.

Over the last 10 years, I’ve been lucky to work with a range of professionals to raise the profile of PE within my school and help others recognize the importance of physical activity and the benefits it offers.

What’s one piece of kit you couldn’t live without in your PE cupboard — and why?

Inspirational quote about the importance of cones in PE lessons, highlighting their role in organizing activities, improving drills, and creating structured physical education sessions for schools.

Sondico training cones arranged on a playing field for a primary school PE lesson. Durable sports cones ideal for marking areas, drills, and activities in physical education and school sports sessions.

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What’s a moment in your PE teaching career that really stuck with you — and why?

My favourite moments when teaching PE are always with the children who are the least ‘sporty’. The way their face lights up when they realise that they can do it is one of the most rewarding things you’ll experience as a teacher. Children can make so much progress within every PE lesson if you can engage them.

If you had to use three words to describe your approach to teaching PE, what would they be?

Adaptive, engaging, and skills-based.

If a lesson isn’t fun and engaging, who would want to do it?!

For some children, they’ve never even tried to kick a football or use a hockey stick, so it’s incredibly important to make sure that we are teaching the skills and progressing through them, not just playing games. Obviously, there is always a place for games, but we need to teach the skills first.

As a SENCO for my school too (It’s a small school, so we all wear many hats!), adaptive teaching is another passion of mine – all children should be able to access PE lessons and be successful.

If you had to use three words to describe your approach to teaching PE, what would they be?

As a SENCO for my school too (It’s a small school, so we all wear many hats!), adaptive teaching is another passion of mine – all children should be able to access PE lessons and be successful.

Adaptive, engaging, and skills-based.

If a lesson isn’t fun and engaging, who would want to do it?!

For some children, they’ve never even tried to kick a football or use a hockey stick, so it’s incredibly important to make sure that we are teaching the skills and progressing through them, not just playing games. Obviously, there is always a place for games, but we need to teach the skills first.

If you had to use three words to describe your approach to teaching PE, what would they be?

Adaptive, engaging, and skills-based.

If a lesson isn’t fun and engaging, who would want to do it?!

For some children, they’ve never even tried to kick a football or use a hockey stick, so it’s incredibly important to make sure that we are teaching the skills and progressing through them, not just playing games. Obviously, there is always a place for games, but we need to teach the skills first.

As a SENCO for my school too (It’s a small school, so we all wear many hats!), adaptive teaching is another passion of mine – all children should be able to access PE lessons and be successful.

Inspirational quote emphasizing the importance of giving all children equal access to PE lessons and opportunities to succeed, promoting inclusion, physical education, and positive school sports culture.

What’s the biggest challenge PE teachers face today — and how do you try to tackle it?

The biggest challenge is the ongoing misconception that PE is somehow less important than core subjects.

It’s often the first lesson to get dropped or shortened to fit in an extra English or Maths lesson, even though so many pupils rely on physical activity to help them manage their emotions, focus better and feel ready for the school day. Watching PE get dropped just when children need it most can be incredibly frustrating.

To tackle this, I advocate for PE every single chance I get. Working with other staff and providing training helps them see that PE isn’t just ‘running around’, it’s vital for children’s wellbeing and learning. Supporting colleagues’ understanding is essential if we want these attitudes to shift. It takes time, but it’s absolutely worth it.

What changes have had a big impact on inclusion in your lessons?

A major shift has been in how we give instructions. With speech, language and communication needs becoming more common, we realised that the way adults explained activities wasn’t working for everyone. Now, staff use shorter, clearer instructions and support them with visuals, whether that’s Makaton signs, pictures, symbols or key words. It’s amazing how much difference a small tweak can make to a child’s confidence and ability to join in.

What's your secret to engaging reluctant or less confident students to get involved in PE?

For me, there isn’t one ‘secret’, because it’s different for every child. The key is finding that little spark of interest and using it as a way in. Once you know what motivates them, you can build from there.

And honestly, relationships make all the difference. When you’ve built trust and a positive connection, even the most reluctant or anxious children feel safer to give things a try.

For me, there isn’t one ‘secret’, because it’s different for every child. The key is finding that little spark of interest and using it as a way in. Once you know what motivates them, you can build from there.

And honestly, relationships make all the difference. When you’ve built trust and a positive connection, even the most reluctant or anxious children feel safer to give things a try.

What's your secret to engaging reluctant or less confident students to get involved in PE?

For me, there isn’t one ‘secret’, because it’s different for every child. The key is finding that little spark of interest and using it as a way in. Once you know what motivates them, you can build from there.

And honestly, relationships make all the difference. When you’ve built trust and a positive connection, even the most reluctant or anxious children feel safer to give things a try.

PE lead guiding a student on how to shoot a Gilbert netball during a school PE lesson. Hands-on coaching to improve technique, accuracy, and confidence in physical education and team sports activities.

How do you handle rainy or bad weather days when outdoor activities aren't possible?

We always try to get outside if we can (there’s nothing like fresh air for a good PE lesson!) but when the weather really won’t allow it, we’re lucky to have a hall big enough for most activities. It’s not quite spacious enough for full football or basketball games, but it does the job!

On those days, we switch to back-up indoor options like Speed Stacking, Boccia or Kurling, which the children absolutely love once they get going. They’re brilliant fun and great for building different skills.

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What's your go-to song or playlist for PE lessons?

It usually ends up being whatever the popular songs are at the time! The children are very quick to tell me what they’d prefer to hear, especially if I’ve accidentally put on something that I like instead. They keep me up to date far better than any playlist ever could.

What’s one thing you’d love to add to your PE curriculum if there were no restrictions?

For my school specifically, I’d love to offer a much wider range of after-school clubs that cover all areas of PE. Because we’re a small school, we rely heavily on a small team of staff to run clubs, which limits what we can offer.

If we had the freedom to bring in specialist coaches and run a wider range of activities, we could engage so many more children and open their eyes to sports they might never have tried before.

What’s your favourite memory from your own school days?

Definitely the time spent with friends, and PE and Drama were always the lessons where we had the most fun together.

What’s your favourite memory from your own school days?

Definitely the time spent with friends, and PE and Drama were always the lessons where we had the most fun together.

Two school friends laughing together while holding Kooga rugby balls during a PE lesson. Promoting teamwork, fun, and physical education with durable Kooga rugby equipment for school sports activities.

Who was your most memorable teacher and why?

I couldn’t name just one teacher, different teachers stood out for different reasons. Some pushed me and believed I could do more, while others were memorable because they were fun and made lessons exciting. All of them influenced me, just in different ways.

If you became education secretary tomorrow, what is the first thing you would do?

If I became education secretary tomorrow, the first thing I’d do would be to make PE hours protected, not just suggested as guidance. Children shouldn’t miss out on physical activity just because they’re having extra reading or English interventions.

I’d also put more support behind initiatives that focus on children’s health and wellbeing, because a healthy child is a child who can learn and thrive.

What are some personal goals you have for the future, both in and out of the classroom?

As a mum, my personal goal is to make sure my children grow up with the knowledge and skills to be healthy, happy and confident. I want them to try different sports and activities and find out which ones they love.

Professionally, I want to keep changing perceptions around PE and get staff on board, so everyone understands just how important it is for pupils’ wellbeing and learning.

What are some personal goals you have for the future, both in and out of the classroom?

As a mum, my personal goal is to make sure my children grow up with the knowledge and skills to be healthy, happy and confident. I want them to try different sports and activities and find out which ones they love.

Professionally, I want to keep changing perceptions around PE and get staff on board, so everyone understands just how important it is for pupils’ wellbeing and learning.

Primary school children having fun in the playground, throwing colorful bean bags during a lively PE activity. Promotes coordination, teamwork, and physical education through engaging outdoor play.

What’s the best bit of advice you’ve ever received as a teacher?

The best advice I’ve ever received is to find your balance. Every teacher’s day looks different, but it’s so important to take care of yourself and stay healthy. If you’re in a good place, you can have a real impact on the lives of these little ones.