Banner for the ‘In Conversation With’ blog series featuring an interview with Kate Northwood. Includes bold text on a dark background and an outdoor PE scene with a participant in a red sports bib.

Promotional banner for the monthly ‘In Conversation With’ series highlighting Kate Northwood. Design combines headline text with an image of a PE activity outdoors, showing a person in a red bib on green grass.

Blog banner introducing the latest ‘In Conversation With’ feature with Kate Northwood. Graphic pairs bold white lettering on a dark panel with a photo of a sports field and a participant wearing a red bib.

In conversation with... Miss Northwood

This month we’ve been in conversation with Miss Kate Northwood, Head of PE at a specialist school. Kate’s journey into teaching is rooted in admiration for her own PE teachers and shaped by a rich mix of roles, from behaviour mentoring to leading community sports events. Her story is one of growth, grit, and a deep belief in the power of inclusive physical education.

In our conversation, Kate shares how she builds confidence in every learner, why cones are her classroom essential, and what it felt like to win the Kent Cup Final with her under-16 girls team. Her reflections offer a refreshing look at how creativity, empathy, and a bit of fun can transform PE for every student.

Can you walk us through your career journey so far?

I always admired my PE teachers, they had great banter and I felt a natural trust to them. I did many roles in my early career including behaviour mentoring, TA, small group teaching as well as intervention across all secondary phases. In my current role I feel so fortunate to oversee PE from pre KS1-KS5 in a specialist setting. I have definitely changed as a teacher over time, having a strong knowledge in your subject and a growing experience certainly helps. I remember feeling very daunted at first and often crying after a tough year 10 girls lesson, however, through resilience, gaining honest feedback and perseverance my skills, adaptation and knowledge improved as well as the young people’s respect for me. Thankfully! I have run many teams, trips in the UK and abroad as well as community events. I held a pastoral position for many years and always incorporated sport into rewards, opportunities and incentives for those young people who were interested. Leading PE in a special school feels an honour and growing our current children’s experience both inside and outside of school as well as their recognition in the community is something I feel fortunate to be a part of.

A quote from Kate Northwood's ICW interview: "LEADING PE IN A SPECIAL SCHOOL FEELS AN HONOUR"

Can you walk us through your career journey so far?

I always admired my PE teachers, they had great banter and I felt a natural trust to them. I did many roles in my early career including behaviour mentoring, TA, small group teaching as well as intervention across all secondary phases. In my current role I feel so fortunate to oversee PE from pre KS1-KS5 in a specialist setting. I have definitely changed as a teacher over time, having a strong knowledge in your subject and a growing experience certainly helps. I remember feeling very daunted at first and often crying after a tough year 10 girls lesson, however, through resilience, gaining honest feedback and perseverance my skills, adaptation and knowledge improved as well as the young people’s respect for me. Thankfully!

I have run many teams, trips in the UK and abroad as well as community events. I held a pastoral position for many years and always incorporated sport into rewards, opportunities and incentives for those young people who were interested. Leading PE in a special school feels an honour and growing our current children’s experience both inside and outside of school as well as their recognition in the community is something I feel fortunate to be a part of.

Can you walk us through your career journey so far?

I always admired my PE teachers, they had great banter and I felt a natural trust to them. I did many roles in my early career including behaviour mentoring, TA, small group teaching as well as intervention across all secondary phases. In my current role I feel so fortunate to oversee PE from pre KS1-KS5 in a specialist setting. I have definitely changed as a teacher over time, having a strong knowledge in your subject and a growing experience certainly helps. I remember feeling very daunted at first and often crying after a tough year 10 girls lesson, however, through resilience, gaining honest feedback and perseverance my skills, adaptation and knowledge improved as well as the young people’s respect for me. Thankfully!

Untitled - 22 May 2026 at 12.12.42-4.png

I have run many teams, trips in the UK and abroad as well as community events. I held a pastoral position for many years and always incorporated sport into rewards, opportunities and incentives for those young people who were interested. Leading PE in a special school feels an honour and growing our current children’s experience both inside and outside of school as well as their recognition in the community is something I feel fortunate to be a part of.

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

There are so many moments, whether small or big. Sometimes a pupil achieving something they never expected or their peers praising them for a great save or shot means a lot. However, a stand out moment for me was taking my under 16 girls team to the first Kent cup final and winning the final in a tight 3-2 victory. It was on a Friday evening in Maidstone stadium and it felt like winning the world cup!

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

Untitled - 22 May 2026 at 12.12.42-5.png

Explore Our Range Of Cones

Sondico Space Markers (Set of 50)

£12.00

£12.00 ~~£12.00~~

Sondico Flat Space Markers (Set of 60)

£18.00

£18.00 ~~£18.00~~

Choose options

Traffic Training Cones (Set of 12)

From £15.00

From £15.00 ~~£15.00~~

Shop Cones

A neatly stacked set of brightly coloured Sondico cones placed on a grassy school field, ready for use in PE lessons. Ideal for marking zones, setting up drills, or adapting activities for inclusive and engaging physical education.

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

Inclusive – I think it is essential for everyone to be included and feel part of the lesson even if they initially do not enjoy the subject, every year I ask my classes at the start of the year who likes and doesn’t like PE as especially in girls PE it isn’t favoured, I promise them that by the end of the year they will like the subject and I am yet to fail!

Engaging – I like to keep my lessons fast pace and fun.

Experimental – After my initial teaching experience I felt that thinking outside of the box was key to engage and include student.

Inclusive – I think it is essential for everyone to be included and feel part of the lesson even if they initially do not enjoy the subject, every year I ask my classes at the start of the year who likes and doesn’t like PE as especially in girls PE it isn’t favoured, I promise them that by the end of the year they will like the subject and I am yet to fail!

Engaging – I like to keep my lessons fast pace and fun.

Experimental – After my initial teaching experience I felt that thinking outside of the box was key to engage and include student.

Shop Our Range of Inclusive PE Equipment!

Wheelchair Hoop

£51.00

£51.00 ~~£51.00~~

YST Junior Boccia Ball Set

£81.00

£81.00 ~~£81.00~~

First-play Floater Ball Pack

£59.00

£59.00 ~~£59.00~~

Choose options

Multicoloured Parachute

From £27.00

From £27.00 ~~£27.00~~

Easy Grip Balls (Set of 4)

£30.00

£30.00 ~~£30.00~~