MEET TEACHER RACHAEL

Our new teacher, Ms Rachael Murley, will be teaching Junior and Senior PE as well as A Level PE subjects. She brings her specialist knowledge in Netball and her experience from her previous post as PE Teacher and Director of Learning at Kibworth Mead Academy in the UK into her new role at Shrewsbury Riverside.

“I obtained a 1st Class Honours Bachelor Science degree in Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences from Brunel University London, and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education in Physical Education and Master of Science with Distinction in Education from Loughborough University.

My most recent school was the Kibworth Mead Academy, Leicestershire where as a PE Teacher, I taught core PE to Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 students. I also delivered OCR GCSE PE and OCR Cambridge National Sport Studies. I was also the  Director of Learning for PE, Design Technology and Food. I supported the development of curriculum across each subject including a PE curriculum and assessment strategy for KS3 and KS4 students. This helped to inform the redevelopment of the PE provision at my previous school, enhancing student experience and nurturing physical literacy. 

I am an advocate for sharing best practices and I truly believe that by working collaboratively we can offer our students the best learning opportunities.I am a member of the Association for Physical Education and attend PE development forums. I also regularly engage with the PE teacher Twitter circuit and follow inspiring practitioners such as Ash Casey, Gary Kinchin and Andy Frapwell to name a few.

I am very much looking forward to working with all of the amazing staff and pupils, and helping to continue to support the fostering of a lifelong love of physical activity and sport here at Shrewsbury. I very much follow a child-centred approach to education, with a holistic outlook on learning and development. I am also very passionate about ensuring that education is for all, and tailored accordingly to enable all to succeed irrespective of starting point.

I aim to instil my own enthusiasm for my subject within my lessons, offering engaging and new learning experiences. Building positive relationships is also at the centre of my learning environment, nurturing students to flourish and strive for success within my subject.

As a PE teacher,  I am a sports enthusiast! I enjoy participating, watching, and reading all about sports. As a friendly giant at the height of 6’2”, I have devoted a lot of my time to playing Netball. I have engaged with Netball across different performance levels from playing within the National Performance League in my youth to BUCS Premier league at university. Aside from Netball, I will happily compete in any sporting activity and have a great appreciation for the thrill you get from outdoor and adventurous activities. 

I also love to travel and explore new places, whilst tasting traditional delicacies around the world. I have many fond memories of discovering new places. My favourite travelling experience so far has to be Zanzibar. This was a welcome and restful trip following climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for charity.”