Senior Lecturer in Sport & Physical Education

Prior to taking up the position of Lecturer in Sport and Physical Education at the University of Bedfordshire I worked in a wide variety of schools over twelve years, latterly as Director of Sport.

I have always been a keen athlete but currently enjoy training and competing in running/duathlons.

I have qualified for championship places in the London marathon, an elite place in Bristol 10K/Great North Run and was recently selected for the V35 England Half Marathon team.

I still coach the juniors at my athletics club as well as being a governor at a local primary school. I am also studying on an EdD course.

Research interests

• Pedagogy
• Physical Education (Primary and Secondary)
• Social justice issues in sport, education, and society

Currently researching: 'Que(e)rying leadership in UK HE'

Qualifications

• BSc Sport Science and Physical Education, Secondary PGCE in Physical Education,
• MSc PE & Sport Pedagogy
• BSc Mathematics and Learning
• HEA Fellowship

Membership of professional bodies

• BERA

Internal/ external roles

• School Liaison Officer for SSPA,
• Teaching & Learning Representative,
• Vice Chair for LGBTQ Alliance Staff Network
• Co-opted governor of a Primary School
• Marking Primary/GCSE/BTEC/A Level PE & Mathematics papers
• EDI university-wide (secondment)
• Lead for EDI in EES
• SSPA EDI School Champion

Teaching expertise

• BA/BSc/MA Pedagogy Units

Publications

• Baird, A. (2019). ‘Redefining an Identity When Transitioning from Secondary School Teacher to University Lecturer’. Research Intelligence (BERA), 141 winter, page 33.
• Baird, A. (2019). ‘Reflections on and Strategies to Create Gender Parity in Physical Education Lessons’. In J. L. Walton-Fisette, S. Sutherland and J. Hill (Eds.) Teaching about Social Justice Issues in Physical Education, USA: Information Age Publishing.
• Brett, A et al. (2023) Pride & Progress podcast ‘LGBTQ+ Inclusive Sport and Physical Education’. Available at: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/pride-progress/id1560726186?i=1000601532200
• Sewell, A, Baird, A. et al. (2022) ‘Voice Practices to support LGBTQIA+ Educators and Pupils’. In A. Sewell (Ed.) Diverse Voices in Educational Practice: A Workbook for Promoting Pupil, Parent and Professional Voice. Routledge: London.
• Baird, A. (2021) Engaging with teachers’ reflections of Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSE) in an English Primary School. Presented at BERA, ISPAR and UCL.

Conference Presentations

• Baird, A. (September, 2019). Understanding female newcomers in non-senior roles in a Post-1992 University. Presented at Institute of Sport Physical Activity Research annual conference, Bedfordshire.
• Hill, J., Wesley, K., Baird, A. and Stewart, A. (September, 2019). Student Journeys: a collaborative project on academic identity with community and first generation higher education students. Paper presented at British Academy Research Association annual conference, Manchester.

Contact Details

T: +44 (0)1234 793428
E: alex.baird@beds.ac.uk

Postal address:
Polhill Avenue
Bedford
MK41 9EA