The real PE podcast

In this thought-provoking episode of real Nonsense, Ronnie Heath (CEO of Create Development) and John Parsons (Director of Innovation at real PE) tackle a critical issue in physical education: the dangerous acceptance of low ambition targets.

The conversation centres on a startling reality - when children start formal schooling, the recommended physical activity drops from three hours to just one hour per day. Why? Not because it's what children need, but because it's deemed "achievable" within current constraints.

John and Ronnie explore how accepting these lowered expectations creates a cascade of problems:

Post-COVID data showing children are three years behind in fundamental movement skills

The shifting of "normal" that accepts declining physical competency

How low ambitions affect not just PE, but cognitive functioning, concentration, and overall development

The duo shares powerful examples of how expectations shape outcomes, from maths setting errors to basketball coaching breakthroughs, demonstrating that our beliefs about what's possible directly impact children's achievements.

Most importantly, they offer solutions: identifying children needing support earlier, embedding movement throughout the school day, and crucially, making physical activity joyful and developmentally appropriate. The message is clear - we must state ambitious goals, celebrate progress towards them, and never accept that "average" is good enough when average means our children are falling behind.

In this special edition of the real PE podcast, CEO Ronnie Heath interviews John Parsons, Director of Innovation at real PE, about implementing physical literacy in primary school curricula. They explore how the award-winning real PE platform transforms physical education from a performance-focused subject to an inclusive, child-centred approach that develops the whole person.

John unpacks the 'cogs' framework, diving deep into personal and social development as foundational elements of physical literacy. From helping young children cope with small failures to building collaborative learning cultures, this episode provides practical insights for teachers and coaches looking to create positive, inclusive environments where every child can thrive.

Drawing on over 15 years of curriculum development and examples from elite sport (including insights from the All Blacks), the conversation demonstrates how focusing on personal resilience, social skills, and emotional development creates stronger foundations for lifelong physical activity than traditional PE approaches.

Perfect for primary teachers, PE specialists, early years practitioners, and anyone interested in creating more inclusive approaches to physical education and sport.

Key topics covered:

Understanding physical literacy beyond just physical skills

The personal cog: Building resilience, perseverance and learning behaviours

The social cog: Developing collaboration, peer support and leadership

Creating environments where every child feels valued

Practical implementation strategies for busy teachers

Why the best teachers and coaches focus on how children feel, not just what they can do

In this special edition of the real PE podcast Ronnie Heath and John Parsons dissect physical literacy:

Is it genuinely different from good PE, or are we just rebranding what we should have been doing all along? In this candid special edition, they explore the new consensus statement, the Patchwork project, and why schools still struggle to distinguish PE from sport. With brutal honesty about grassroots practice and thought-provoking questions about terminology, this episode tackles the gap between ambition and reality in children's physical development. Essential listening for anyone working in education, sport, or child development.

Join us for an honest, sometimes uncomfortable conversation about:

The new consensus statement for physical literacy in England and what it really means

Why physical literacy sounds remarkably similar to what real PE has championed for 16 years

The critical difference (or is there one?) between physical literacy and physical education

Whether we're reinventing the wheel or genuinely moving the sector forward

The Patchwork project's work translating theory into practice across communities

Why parents still can't tell the difference between PE and sport – and whose fault that is

The brutal truth about grassroots sport and the gap between what we say and what we do

This episode doesn't shy away from the hard questions. If physical literacy is about how we move, connect, think, and feel – isn't that just describing good education full stop? Is sculpture part of physical literacy? What about drama or playing a musical instrument?

Ronnie challenges whether we're simply admitting that PE is finally catching up with child development science, whilst John defends the intent behind the movement and the real problems it's trying to solve. Both agree on one thing: translating good principles into actual practice remains our biggest challenge.

Whether you're a PE teacher, school leader, sports coach, or anyone working in children's physical development, this conversation will make you think differently about the language we use and the change we're trying to create.

Join hosts Ronnie Heath (CEO of Create Development) and John Parsons (Director of Innovation at real PE), as they delve into an engaging conversation with Emma Lewry, early years expert and consultant, as she shares transformative insights on extending play-based learning beyond reception. Discover how movement, choice, and continuous provision can revolutionise learning throughout primary school, creating engaged, motivated learners who love coming to school.

In this inspiring real PE special edition, we're joined by Emma Leary, an experienced headteacher turned consultant who's pioneering the extension of early years best practice into Key Stage 1 and beyond.

Emma shares her journey from the "glitter and Play-Doh" of early years teaching through three headships to her current work supporting schools across the UK in implementing play-based, movement-rich approaches that transform children's engagement with learning.

This episode is essential listening for anyone who believes children should love learning and that school should be a place of joy, not just compliance.

Join hosts Toni Smyth, Ronnie Heath (CEO of real PE), and John Parsons (Director of Innovation) for an extraordinary conversation with Sarah Moon, Membership Experience Manager at real PE and former Head Coach of the GB Rhythmic Gymnastics team at the 2012 Olympics.

In this fascinating episode, Sarah shares her remarkable journey from coaching elite gymnasts on the world's biggest stage to supporting thousands of primary school teachers across the UK. Discover how the principles that helped Team GB achieve their best-ever Olympic performance translate directly to creating inclusive, personalised learning experiences in school halls nationwide.

Sarah reveals the surprising similarities between coaching Olympic athletes and working with a class of 30 primary school children, exploring how a 'personal best' mindset can transform both elite performance and everyday PE lessons. Learn about the development of real Gym, the innovative programme breaking down barriers and stereotypes around gymnastics in schools.

This episode challenges preconceptions about elite sport and education, showing how personalisation, belonging, and celebrating individual progress are essential whether you're preparing for the Olympics or helping a child take their first tentative steps on a gymnastics mat.

Perfect for educators, coaches, and anyone interested in how high-performance principles can enhance learning for every child.