Michael Crichton to step down as afPE Chair

28/01/21

After a total of six years in the role, Michael Crichton is stepping down as Chair of the Association for Physical Education (afPE) for personal and family reasons. This has been a very difficult decision for Mike. The afPE Board meeting in March 2021 will be his last as Chair of the Board of Trustees.

Having joined baalpe as a member in 1998, Mike was keen to receive the best in policy, advice and guidance whilst Head of PE & Community Links at a large middle school in Somerset. He joined Suffolk County Council in 2001 as an Advisory Teacher for PE and in 2008 became the Learning & Improvement Adviser for PE. His role was maintained in the local authority re-shuffle in 2011 alongside other duties including joint lead for the roll out of the Teacher Mentoring & Coaching Strategy across Suffolk.

Always maintaining his baalpe and then afPE membership (following amalgamation of baalpe and PEA (UK) in 2006), Mike has regularly quoted that his membership of the PE subject association allowed him to receive ‘hot off the press’ information on policy and strategy and PE specific guidance quicker than many of his colleagues. As a result, schools and colleagues benefitted by having the latest information, guidance and therefore support, a major advantage that Mike still talks about today.

An opportunity to join the afPE Board was made available in 2012 when Trustee vacancies were advertised to the membership. Mike recalls he was immediately interested because “as an experienced practitioner in a number of roles within PE, and having a lifelong belief that physical education should be a bedrock for every child, I felt I had something to offer to the board and they unashamedly had something to offer to me.” A successful election meant he joined the afPE Board in the 2012 olympic year.

 “I remember my first meeting in Birmingham: I felt so honoured to have joined this group at the top of the profession I loved.”

Some significant developments in Mike’s personal and professional life occurred in the spring of 2015. Having been with Suffolk County Council Learning & Improvement Service for fourteen years, he decided to take early retirement from his role as Standards & Excellence Officer & Learning and Improvement Adviser for PE. This coincided with the then Vice Chair of afPE having to terminate their role on the board for professional reasons. The Board asked Mike if he would accept the position as Interim Vice Chair, which he did.

Only a matter of weeks later, in mid-April, the then Chair of the Association also tendered their resignation leaving the Board to ask Mike if he would consider elevating his position again, to be the Interim Chair, which he duly accepted.

“It was all a bit of a whirlwind” Mike recalls. “First Declan and then Darren left their roles for very unavoidable, understandable and professional reasons, but quite suddenly I was leading the organisation with the faith and trust of my fellow trustees.”

Mike was formally elected to the position of Chair at the 2016 AGM and has continued to lead the organisation ever since.

“I have loved every minute of my time with afPE as a trustee and for the last six years as Chair of the Board. I have always been a passionate advocate for the importance of PE and the benefits that the subject can deliver for children and young people. Being involved at the strategic level of afPE, the UK’s PE Subject Association, has allowed me to ‘spread the word’ from various positions and to a wide range of various audiences and organisations. The staff team are amazing, and without their dedication, resilience and vision, I certainly would not have enjoyed the time I have had and the support that I have been given. The decision I have made, believe me, has certainly been one of the hardest in my professional career.”

“It has been a period of great change for the association, and the challenges have come thick and fast. As we know, education and learning never stand still but I am so proud to have chaired afPE where the agility, flexibility, dedication and knowledge of the membership, fellow trustees, consultants and of course the staff, led unbelievably successfully by the CEO Sue, have kept afPE at the head of the game and highly influential within the PE, school sport and physical activity (PESSPA) sector. This despite the unpredictable and on occasions, volatile situations that we have all faced over the years, and very specifically over the last twelve months due to the dreadful pandemic.”

“I can honestly say that being able to work alongside highly professional colleagues and see the commitment and expertise shown every day is unbelievable. afPE’s vison and strap line: ‘Putting PE at the heart of school life’ is in itself a real challenge, and in my presentations across the country at various conferences, I have always promoted this. I am delighted that, without exception, colleagues have also identified with this as a real ambition. This has been heart-warming to say the least.”

“When asked about my proudest accomplishments as Chair, I can honestly say that being able to fulfil the role has been the main and most significant one. However, the one stand-out occasion must be the honour I felt in being Chair at the afPE 10-year anniversary celebration in London in 2016 at the Lord Mayors Office, City Hall overlooking Tower Bridge on the banks of the Thames. It was a great occasion and one that I will treasure for many years to come. Welcoming guests and presenting my keynote address from the famous lectern in the Council Chamber where the business plans are presented by the two finalists on ‘The Apprentice’ programme was a real highlight. I didn’t win the £250,000 and I wasn’t fired, so there you go! I did however set an early platform for myself in representing afPE with my five ‘P’s’: Passion, Purpose, Positivity, Productivity and Partnership. I hope that I have done that.”

Sue Wilkinson MBE FRSA, afPE CEO said:

“On behalf of the staff it is with sadness and gratitude that we would like to thank Mike for his strategic leadership of afPE during the last 6 years. Those of you who know Mike personally admire him for his moral compass and for his personal lifetime values. We all wish Mike well and we are pleased that he will remain as an afPE consultant and I am sure he will continue to provide valuable counsel to the Board and staff.”

Richard Neal, afPE Vice Chair said:

“Mike has steered the organisation through so much sector change over his tenure as Chair.”

“Introduced in 2013, the Primary PE & Sport Premium has provided much opportunity for the whole sector to raise the bar of physical education in schools. The new National Curriculum in 2014 saw physical education maintained as a core subject, but increased academisation has bought challenges in ensuring all children continue to receive a broad and balanced curriculum with PE firmly embedded within. The association continues to comply with the highest tier of the Code of Governance for Sport introduced in 2017.  The introduction of the School Sport & Activity Action Plan published in 2019 has provided opportunities to strengthen the role of all physical activity within a young person’s daily routine. The onset of the pandemic in 2020 has also presented many significant challenges both internally within the organisation and externally across the sector.”

“Throughout all of this, Mike has led the organisation with expertise, empathy, and a level of commitment which has been far-and-beyond that which could have been reasonably expected. On behalf of all those who have served on the afPE Board during Mike’s tenure, our gratitude and appreciation cannot be understated.”

“But alas all good things come to an end and the Board reluctantly but respectfully accepted Mike’s decision to step away from the role at this time.”

“afPE will shortly begin the recruitment of Mike’s successor. They will join the organisation at an incredibly exciting time with membership soaring, the opportunity to contribute significantly to a new Strategic Plan, and physical education, school sport and physical activity being more important than ever for the recovery of the country.”