On Wednesday 26 March 2025, Active Kent & Medway welcomed over 170 attendees to its annual Primary PE & Physical Activity Conference at the Kent Event Centre, Detling. The day buzzed with energy as educators, sports deliverers, and activity providers gathered to learn from experts, network and share innovative ideas to help promote physical activity within schools. The conference featured an impressive lineup of keynote speakers, including:
Andrew Liney, Head of Children & Young People, Sport England, providing valuable insights into the national context of physical education and the role of sport and physical activity in shaping young lives.
Bryn Llewellyn, co-director of Move & Learn (CIC) and founder of Tagtiv8, captivated the audience with his approaches to physically active learning. His session emphasised the need to challenge sedentary lifestyles by integrating movement into the learning process. Young student leaders from Queenborough Primary School joined him on stage for a Q&A session.
Emma Brown, a celebrated player for the England Deaf Women’s Futsal Team, Team GB Deaf Women’s Football Team and a sports coach at a primary school, shared her journey and the importance of inclusivity in sports, drawing from her own lived experiences.
Throughout the day, delegates participated in various workshops designed to offer practical strategies for enhancing physical education in schools. The marketplace was a hub of activity with over 30 stalls, showcasing products and services that schools can invest in using their Sports Premium funding. Morning and afternoon energiser sessions delivered by Great Athletes UK, kept delegates moving, whilst dance performances from Aylesford Primary School students and energetic breakdancing skills from CreACTIVE, helped entertain everyone throughout lunch.
Delegates left the conference armed with ideas and actions that they can start implementing in their schools.
Ian Harman, Head of PE, Meadowfield School said:
“I’m so impressed by the amount of people here and how friendly everyone is. It’s a great opportunity to network and gain some fantastic ideas and meet people who have inspired me to try new things in my lessons. I would highly recommend this event to all primary school teachers.”
Liz Davidson, Active Partnership Director, Active Kent & Medway commented:
“Our annual Primary PE & Physical Activity Conference is always such an enjoyable and informative event. It gives so many of our partners in education the chance to hear from experts, share ideas and discover what is on offer to support their work in ensuring all children have positive experiences when it comes to getting active or playing sport. Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s event another great success.”
