Dr Julia Potter

Head of Physical Education and University Coordinator of Advance HE Provision

About

I am an experienced academic leader with over 25 years of experience in higher education, specialising in Physical Education, Initial Teacher Training and Advance HE provision.

My research and scholarship interests focus on interdisciplinary research in education, sport science, exercise physiology and health.

I have an active interest in curriculum development, quality assurance and advancing pedagogical and andragogical practice, through fostering innovation and cross-expertise collaboration.

I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and an engaged mentor for colleagues working towards AFHEA, FHEA and SFHEA.

Professional

I am a member of BERA (British Education Research Association).

I have responsibility for both the area of Physical Education within the Faculty of Sports Sciences and Engineering, including its four undergraduate programmes, Physical Education (Secondary QTS), Physical Education (Secondary), Physical Education (Primary) and Physical Education and Sports Coaching, which run alongside the PGCE Secondary PE.

I am also coordinator of the Advanced HE provision in the University, leading on the CPD routes for AFHEA, FHEA and SFHEA.

I also support the leadership and coordination of the taught routes for the University Certificate for Professional Practice and the Postgraduate Certificate of Professional Practice in Higher Education.

In 2024, I was awarded the Vice-Chancellor’s Teaching Award.

Key Publications

Wadey, C. A., Leggat, F. J., Potter, J., Amir, N. H., Forsythe, L., Stuart, A. G., … & Williams, C. A. (2024). Parental recommendations and exercise attitudes in congenital hearts. Cardiology in the Young, 34(3), 667-675. https://doi.org/10.1017/S104795112300327X

Fryer, S., Paterson, C., Perkins, I. C., Gloster, C., Willems, M., & Potter, J. A. (2020). New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract Enhances Muscle Oxygenation During Forearm Exercise in Intermediate-Level Rock Climbers. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 30(4), 258–263. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.2019-0365

Fryer, S., Giles, D., Bird, E., Stone, K., Paterson, C., Baláš, J., Willems, M., Potter, J. A., & Perkins, I. C. (2020). New Zealand blackcurrant extract enhances muscle oxygenation during repeated intermittent forearm muscle contractions in advanced and elite rock climbers. European Journal of Sport Science, 1–9. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2020.1827048

Potter, J. A., Hodgson, C. I., Broadhurst, M., Howell, L., Gilbert, J., Willems, M., & Perkins, I. C. (2020). Effects of New Zealand blackcurrant extract on sport climbing performance. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 120(1), 67–75. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-019-04226-2

Research

My PhD explored the impact of exercise on salivary antibodies and general immune defence.

My research since has been quite varied, but has considered the role of schools in child health, interactions between doctors and physical education for children with chronic conditions and the impact of New Zealand Blackcurrant on Rock Climbing performance.

More recently, I have been involved in the development of a systematic observation tool for observing teachers, and also in the consideration of the reflections of training teachers.