Episode 76 - David Wallace - Move to Learn: Primary PE, Inclusion and the International Classroom

In Episode 76 of The PE Insights Podcast, I’m joined by David Wallace, speaking to us from Bangkok, Thailand, where he currently teaches Junior Physical Education.

David’s journey into primary PE was anything but linear. Trained in the UK as a secondary PE teacher at the University of Cumbria, he taught briefly in Burnley before taking a leap into international education. That move, initially described as a shock, became career-defining. With the support of a mentor who “took me under his wing,” David discovered a deep passion for primary PE, later leading Junior School PE in Hong Kong before returning to Bangkok.

This conversation explores what it really means to put movement, inclusion and human experience at the heart of Physical Education.

We discuss how PE has evolved to foreground social, emotional and cognitive learning alongside physical development, while still protecting movement as the core of the subject. David shares his honest reflections on lesson balance, feedback habits, and how the messages we send as teachers shape what children believe truly matters.

A powerful moment in the episode centres on grouping and inclusivity. David reflects on witnessing a child left alone during partner selection and how that moment fundamentally changed his practice. From simple conversation-based grouping strategies to using digital tools like Team Shake, he explains why taking an extra minute to group intentionally is always worth it.

The episode also offers valuable insight into international teaching. David explains why UK QTS acts as a global passport, how international schools have raised standards, and the professional freedom that comes with adapting curriculum to diverse contexts. He shares practical advice on accreditation, career progression and life overseas.

We then dive into David’s Master’s research on online PE teacher communities, charting the shift away from Twitter/X towards Instagram and LinkedIn, and why maintaining external professional networks matters more than ever to avoid working in an echo chamber.

Finally, we tackle one of the most sensitive topics in PE: the relationship between PE and Games. David unpacks competition, ability grouping, student choice, and how carefully separating these spaces can allow both to serve young people well.

This is a thoughtful, honest and practice-rich conversation about belonging, balance and building meaningful experiences through Physical Education.

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