Studio You, the digital exercise platform for teenage girls, has teamed up with Nike to launch a series of new exercise videos to improve the school PE experience for girls in England.

With 87 per cent of girls saying they’d had a negative PE experience at school, the Studio You x Nike hub aims to reframe negative narratives around school sport.

Designed by girls for girls, the fresh, modern content features a range of activities informed by the things girls say would be their dream PE experience. Studio You x Nike research found that of those girls who had had a negative experience of PE, 39 per cent said dance and 29 per cent said fitness/workouts were their top preferences.

The initiative is powered by the This Girl Can campaign and funded by The National Lottery.

Studio You is accredited by the Association for Physical Education and helps teachers deliver inclusive, non-competitive activities to girls who feel traditional PE isn’t for them. Since launching in September 2021, 61,200 girls have used the platform, 60 per cent of secondary schools in England have registered and an average 36,600 girls use it weekly.

The fresh content has been designed following extensive consultation via surveys and focus groups with more than 1,000 girls who reported feeling heard and valued and as if their opinions mattered. The workouts emphasise non-competitive activities such as dance and fitness, showing girls that physical activity can be about self-expression, confidence and fun, not just winning.

A diverse team of inspiring Nike trainers were recruited to lead engaging and accessible lessons, with adaptive movements also demonstrated with the help of disabled trainers from Disability Sports Coach.

Content has been designed around moods and themes which girls selected, including confident, focused, energised and calm. Disciplines such as mental fitness, meditation and breathwork have also been introduced to help teachers explore ways to improve mindset, focus and confidence in students, especially during critical times such as exam periods.

Recognising the preference of 34 per cent of girls who said they like to learn new activities gradually, the videos and lessons have been designed in bite-sized formats with progression highlighted. Videos are complemented by introductory content for both teachers and students to get to know the trainer and discipline.

Dani Ward, senior campaign activation manager at This Girl Can, says: “We’re flipping the script on what we presume girls want from PE, with girls' voices and choices allowing them to lead the way in what they want their lessons to look like.

“Traditional sports and competitive activities may engage some girls, but a one-size-fits-all approach is leaving behind the 51 per cent of teenage girls who aren’t meeting their recommended activity levels.”

This rethink of school sport is desperately needed. While it might work for the naturally sporty kids who make the teams, it’s all too easy for those who don’t make the grade to label themselves as 'unsporty' and stop doing any form of activity.

According to research from the Youth Sport Trust, girls’ enjoyment of PE drops by 30 per cent between the ages 8 and 15. Research by Nike and Studio You found that 87 per cent of girls who had a negative PE experience wished they had more say in the activities. Seventy nine per cent of girls value fun in PE, while inclusion (59 per cent) and an engaging teacher (53 per cent) are also important for their enjoyment.

Dan Burrows, global GM of future of youth sport for Nike, says: “Our partnership to launch the Studio You x Nike hub will continue to advance the platform’s proven results to increase girls’ participation and is vital to creating a future where all girls can enjoy their PE experience.”