About
Research
Email: laura.davies@stmarys.ac.uk
Biography
I am a Lecturer on the BA Physical Education, Sport and Youth Development (PESYD) programme.
I have a particular interest in inclusion, and as well as lecturing across a range of teaching and learning modules on the programme, I convene the Adapted PE modules at Level 5 and 6, and contribute to several modules that cover topics related to equality, diversity and inclusion.
As a student, I completed a BSc in Sports Science, before obtaining a PGCE in Physical Education at Brunel University. Whilst teaching full-time, I also completed a Masters in Education, with my dissertation focusing on the transition between primary and secondary physical education, and the impact of primary school PE provision on subsequent attainment at Key Stage 3.Prior to joining St Mary’s University in July 2022, I was the Head of Physical Education at a British International School in Thailand. I taught PE for thirteen years in a range of schools both in the UK and internationally, in mainstream and special education settings.I recently completed my PhD at Loughborough University, titled: ‘The Many Faces of Culture: A Grounded Theory Examination of Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND) provision in and International School in Thailand’. The research explored cross-cultural understandings of SEND and how culture influences inclusive practice in an international school setting.
Research
Research profile
Membership of professional bodies
British Educational Research Association (BERA)
International Society of Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise (QRSE)
Teaching and Research
Published and presented:
- Davies, L. (2026) Using Grounded Theory as a Tool for Researching Disability in Physical Education. Routledge Handbook of Qualitative Methods for Researching Disability in Physical Education.
- Davies, L., Coates, J., Damant, E. & Casey, A. (2025) West is best? Hierarchies of knowledge and practices of inclusion in an international school in Thailand. Paper presented at BERA Conference 2025, University of Sussex, September 2025.
- Davies, L., Coates, J., Damant, E. & Casey, A. (2025) The many faces of culture: A grounded theory examination of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision in an international school in Thailand. Paper presented at 21st ISATT Biennial Conference, University of Glasgow, July 2025.
- Brady, A., Davies, L., Healy, M. & Daniels, S. (2025) Reflecting on strategies to elevate student voice and autonomy during an undergraduate service-learning project, evasys Student Engagement Conference, University of Westminster, February 2025.
- Lynch, S., Davies, L., Ahmed, D., & McBean, L. (2023). Complicity, trauma, love: An exploration of the experiences of LGBTQIA+ members from physical education spaces. Sport, Education and Society, 28(9), 1082-1098.
- Healy, M., Davies, L. & Brady, A. (2023) Examining the Impact of a Primary Physical Education Service-Learning Project, IV Uniservitate Global Symposium, 8th – 9th November 2023.
- Lynch, S., & Davies, L. (2022). The WonderBread Factory: re-reading transformative data through poetic eyes as early career researchers, a poetic representation. Curriculum Studies in Health and Physical Education, 1-15.
- Davies, L., Coates, J., Damant, E. & Casey, A. (2021) Supporting Students with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND) in International Education: An Examination of Teacher Experiences in Thailand. Paper presented at 2021 EERA ECER Emerging Researcher's Conference, 2nd-3rd September 2021.