1. FAST TRACK
Chris Rowe –
Physical Education and Swimming:
Independent Consultancy Service
“Inspire to Aspire”
2. Personal Profile
2007 – 2015 Director of Sport – Dubai English Speaking School
2004 – 2007 Head of Primary Physical Education/Head of Key Stage 4 – British International School Cairo
2001 – 2004 Head of Physical Education – British International School Riyadh
1989 – 2001 Head of Vocational Education/PE Teacher – Birchwood High School, Warrington
1982 – 1989 Head of Vocational Education/PE Teacher – William Beamont High School, Warrington
1980 – 1982 Manager – Double View Sports Centre, Gloucestershire
Total 35 years working in education including 21 years in Secondary, 8 years in Primary and 6 years in FS2 - Year 11 through schools.
Total 33 years in leadership positions including at age 23 appointed as Sports Centre Manager and 14 years as Director of Sport.
At 5 large and diverse schools in both Primary and Secondary sectors, led and developed Physical Education.
At 3 large high profile British International schools, significantly raised and maintained the profile of Sport and Physical Education
Comprehensive personal experience of teaching and coaching children of all abilities aged 4 to 18 in private and state sectors both at home and overseas.
Lead swim coach and manager for Dubai English Speaking School - Dubai and British Schools of the Middle East champions from 2007 - 2015
Responsibility for in-depth and detailed Performance Management programmes.
Led and organised over 150 various major, multi-event tournaments and championships, 8 Annual Dubai Swimming Championships and 3 Annual Riyadh
Athletics Championship meets.
Project Managed 10th Anniversary BSME Games, Dubai 2013. 12 schools, 360 pupils, 40 teachers, 500 parents, 4 days, 5 sports tournaments, opening and
closing awards ceremonies.
Led the development of extra curricular sport and training at Dubai English Speaking School resulting in an increase of over 230% provision over 7 years.
Led the improvement of results across all areas of sport at Dubai English Speaking School totalling 84 first places, 52 second places and 48 third places at
major competitions in a highly competitive environment over 8 years.
Founder of the International Schools Sports League of Riyadh.
Played a key role in the initiation and implementation of the annual BSME Heads of PE conference 2008 - 2015
3. Introduction
From around the age of 6, I have been immersed in the world of Physical Education and Sport. The process started when
helping my Father with his job as Head of Physical Education at the Royal School for Deaf children in Birmingham– carrying
baskets at Sports Days, tidying store cupboards, watching him teach and coach and progressed from there. My Father,
Uncle, Brother and myself are all PE teachers with over 120 years experience between us. It has always been there. It is in my
genes!
My own work history started in 1977 as a pool lifeguard (as many PE teachers’ do) and progressed to Sports Centre Manager
and then moved on to a number of very different schools.
I have worked with all age ranges – FS to 6th Form, across all abilities from beginner to elite level, in both the state and
private sectors, in the UK and overseas and across all demographic and ethnic groups.
Over the years I have benefitted from working in great schools and with great teams of people. This has resulted in
accumulating a wealth of knowledge, skills, approaches and experience which I have utilised throughout my career.
The last 8 years have been particularly rewarding and fulfilling. As Director of Sport at one of the leading British Primary
Schools in Dubai I have been able to work with a talented group of adults and children in developing Physical Activity and
Sport to it’s highest level for each individual child.
Having now retired from Physical Education teaching I would like to use my experience to help others develop themselves,
their departments and their schools. Many of the approaches I use for reviewing, planning and implementing good practice
are relatively simple and straightforward. Eating the frog, sharpening the saw, building the toolkit and the KISS principle are
all very much part of the approach! No rocket science is used.
My approach is to tailor my service to the needs of the client and can be done face to face or online and over short or
extended periods. Projects can be major whole school or focused on planning for specific events. Below are examples of
some of the larger projects I can offer. Please contact me for an informal chat to see how we might work together in the
future. I look forward to hearing from you.
4. Typical Outline
Onsite 3 day Review
Below is an outline of how a typical 3 day review might operate. In consultation with clients an
individual programme will be devised for each review.
Pre- meeting actions (off-site): Email/Skype contact with Head of Department and/or Departmental
Line Manager. Initial gathering of information on current situation – staffing, documentation, policies
and procedures. Completion of questionnaire and outline audit materials prior to arrival.
Day 1 – Face to face meetings with Head of Department, Line Manager, whole department. Outline
review and discussion of current systems and supporting documentation. Review of staffing – levels,
structure, strengths, responsibilities
Day 2 – Observation of lessons, coaching. Individual meetings with other key staff including Support
staff and coaches
Day 3 – Review and initial write-up of findings and recommendations. Meeting Head of Department and
Line Manager to report back and identify key areas of development
Post-meeting actions (off-site): Completion of comprehensive detailed report along with Key
recommendations for action. Report back to client.
6. A comprehensive audit of current situation - looking
at systems in place and how these are administered.
Observation and feedback on coaching practice.
Written feedback/report with advice for priorities.
Devising a comprehensive structure for both
curricular and competitive swimming.
Exploring coaching approaches to take with children in an
educational setting. Coaching through understanding.
Establishing a tiered selection and coaching system,
which provides for the whole range of swim abilities,
but still enables high standards of performance at elite
level.
7. Different types of swim meet to suit all abilities.
Logistics of running a swim meet.
Timing. Ways of integrating this into a various types of meet.
Logistics of timing (staff/parent training – paperwork
- storing and using times for selection and other uses.)
Staffing - how to maximise use of staff that you have.
How to plan for an increase in numbers/type and quality of staffing
Training - content/approaches and logistics
(length of sessions/regularity per week).
8. Parents - how to channel the positive and manage the challenge
of working with swim parents.
Rewards and celebrations - motivating swimmers.
Devising an action plan for the future. 3 year/5 year model.
Ongoing review and development.
10. Applying the core principles of your swim programme
to the development of other competitive sports
Managing and multi tasking –
planning, prioritizing and scheduling a
more complex sports programme.
11. Developing a healthy competitive sports philosophy for your
school
Creating policies, structures and approaches to support your
Vision.
Different logistical approaches to creating an effective Extra
Curricular programme - staffing/timing/resources
13. Departmental leadership. Leadership styles – how and when to use
them.
Motivating, developing, tracking and investing in your department.
Timetabling/Curriculum planning and structure
Assessment methods - keeping this efficient and practicable.
How to use assessment information for further improvement
Whole departmental planning - structures and approaches.
Core areas of development
14. Communication - with parents, children, Senior Management and peers.
Teaching approaches - learning through understanding
Learning through exploration, supported by formal teaching
methods.
Forward planning and review - practical approaches to managing
a large curricular and ECA programme.
Using (workplace) coaching approaches with departmental members.
Performance management approaches and methods.
15. Services and fees
Review and recommendations for competitive and curriculum swim
programmes - 3 days:
Onsite review - £950
Remote review - £600
Review and recommendations for Departmental leadership and
development - 3 days:
Onsite review - £1200
Remote review - £800
Costs include all pre-meeting communication and planning and after
meeting written report/recommendations.
Further details and other tailor made packages available on request.
Please contact for more details.
