Dr Francis Dockerty

Senior Lecturer in Primary Education & Primary PGCE with PE Cohort Lead

Primary Education

Contact Details

email: f.dockerty@worc.ac.uk

Fran is the Subject Lead for Primary Physical Education and Cohort Lead for the PGCE Primary PE pathway. He joined the department in 2021 after a successful career in primary teaching where Fran was subject lead for PE and a regular mentor for trainee teachers from the University of Worcester. In 2023, Fran was part of the primary Initial Teacher Education (ITE) team, which earned an 'Outstanding' rating from Ofsted, with Physical Education being one of the areas of interest.

Fran has completed a Doctorate in Education, which explored professional development for effective subject leadership in Primary Physical Education. His doctoral research also explored a range of topics related to Primary Physical Education, including child obesity, the philosophy of Physical Education and models-based pedagogy in Physical Education. Fran also holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, where his research focused on areas such as school leadership, mentoring and coaching, and effective subject leadership. More broadly, Fran has published work relating to Physical Education pedagogy and professional development in Primary Physical Education.

 

 

Qualifications

  • EdD: Doctorate in Education
  • MEd: Masters in Educational Leadership
  • Post Graduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education
  • Post Graduate Certificate in Education: Primary Education
  • Level 5 Certificate in Primary Physical Education Specialism
  • BA: Education Studies
  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2023)

Teaching & Research

Teaching Interests

  • Primary PE
  • Primary PE subject leadership
  • School leadership including middle leadership
  • Subject specific pedagogy

Research Interests

  • Professional development for effective subject leadership in PE
  • Nonlinear pedagogy in PE
  • Primary PE pedagogy
  • Subject leadership

 

Professional Bodies

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2023)

External Roles

Chair of Governors at a primary school in Worcestershire

Publications

Pritchard, R., & Dockerty, F. (2026). Game on! Enhancing teacher development in primary PE through a Rosenshine-inspired approach. Education 3-13, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004279.2026.2655144

Pritchard, R., & Dockerty, F. (2024) Game on! Enhancing primary physical education through a Rosenshine-inspired approach, Curriculum Studies in Health and Physical Education, DOI: 10.1080/25742981.2024.2314057

Dockerty, F., & Pritchard, R. (2023) Reconsidering models-based practice in primary physical education, Education 3-13, DOI: 10.1080/03004279.2023.2263470