Rachel Mackinney

Senior Lecturer in PE

About

Rachel teaches PE on the Secondary and Primary QTS programmes as well as the undergraduate PE degrees. She specialises in primary PE. As a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy Rachel supports the development of teaching and learning within physical education and the wider university. This role involves teaching and mentoring staff on the universities PGCert programme.

Regular visits to local schools to carry out observations as part of school experience ensures that Rachel keeps up to date with current policy and practice. This is further supported by her consultancy role in primary schools which provides an opportunity to work with teachers on the ground working in real classrooms with real children. Rachel’s approach to teaching is therefore both research and practice informed.

As an academic advisor Rachel supports students in reviewing their feedback and setting targets to maximise their academic potential. This role also involves supporting students through other challenges they may face during their time at university.

Professional

Education:

2018 Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
2005-2007 Master in Education, University of Brighton
1995-1997 PGCE Physical Education and Geography, University of Loughborough
1992-1995 BA (Hons) Sports Studies and Geography, University of Wolverhampton

Key Publications

Online Resources

Online PE confidence series, Coachwise. http://www.1st4sport.co.uk/store

PE Confidence: Assessing Progress in PE

PE Confidence: Organisation in Primary PE

PE Confidence: Planning Primary PE

Articles

Checkley, S., & Mackinney, R. (2022) Secondary physical education teachers’ questioning behaviours a systematic observation. Physical Education Matters, 17 (1). pp. 86-89. ISSN 1751-0988
Mackinney, R., Kelly, J. & Pulling, C. (2021) The Effect of Feedback Type on Academic Performance. Practice and Evidence of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 15 (1). pp. 78-93. ISSN 1750-8428

Mackinney, R. (2020) Value of video recorded lessons and live verbal feedback to pre-service teachers. Physical Education Matters, 15 (2). pp72-74. ISSN 1751-0988
Lavin, J., Mackinney, R. and Swindlehurst, G. (2013). The National Curriculum for Physical Education KS1 and KS2: No play, no health, no creativity, no problem solving, no progress? Physical Education Matters, 8 (3) 22-25.
Mackinney, R. (2012). Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities: giving our student teachers the support they need. Physical Education Matters, 7 (3), 60-61.

Books

Mackinney, R., Eldridge, D., Prior, M. and Pulling, C. (2013) Thinking Games: Primary Key Stage 2 Invasion Games. Thinking Sport Ltd.

Research Interests

Feedback is arguably the most important aspect of an assessment process but its impacts are highly variable. Rachel’s research interest has explored the ways in which we give students feedback (written, audio and face to face) and the impact this has on student performance.

Research Output

Articles

Mackinney, R. (2025) Examining the use of verbal teacher feedback in physical education lessons. Education Sciences, 15 (5). pp. 1-14. ISSN 2227-7102 10.3390/educsci15050568

Mackinney, R. (2024) The considerations for effective verbal feedback in physical education. Physical Education Matters, 19 (1). pp. 19-21. ISSN 1751-0988

Checkley, S. and Mackinney, R. (2022) Secondary physical education teachers’ questioning behaviours a systematic observation. Physical Education Matters, 17 (1). pp. 86-89. ISSN 1751-0988

Mackinney, R., Kelly, J. S. and Pulling, C. (2021) The Effect of Feedback Type on Academic Performance. Practice and Evidence of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 15 (1). pp. 78-93. ISSN 1750-8428

Mackinney, R. (2020) VALUE OF VIDEO-RECORDED LESSONS WITH SIMULTANEOUS AUDIO FEEDBACK TO PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS. Physical Education Matters, 15 (2). pp. 72-74. ISSN 1751-0988