NSW Department of Education Sports Unit: Part 3 of 4: The Brain-Sport Connection: How Physical Activity Boosts Learning

Professional Learnings NSWPPA Educational Leadership

The connection between physical activity and brain development isn't just anecdotal—it's backed by compelling scientific research that should revolutionize how we think about sport in schools. When students exercise, their brains produce more BDNF enzyme, which supports memory formation, reduces anxiety, and significantly enhances learning capacity. One study showed students who participated in high-intensity fitness before tutoring improved their test scores by over 20%, compared to just 3.87% improvement in students who received tutoring alone.
James Boyer from the NSW School Sports Unit explains that timing matters: "If we do physical activity just before we want to learn something new, it really gets kids ready to learn." This challenges the false dichotomy between academic time and physical activity time, suggesting instead that movement creates optimal conditions for learning.
Meanwhile, the School Swimming and Water Safety Program celebrates 70 years of providing vital skills to 100,000 students annually across 1,400 NSW schools. Beyond safety, these programs deliver profound wellbeing benefits, particularly for students from diverse backgrounds who gain confidence and connection through participation.
Perhaps most moving are the stories of inclusion through the multi-class sports pathway. Peter Cardy shares how a student named Sophie transformed from hiding her limb difference to becoming confident and outgoing through participating in classified sport competitions. Last year saw record participation with 192 multi-class athletes at state championships.
For school leaders, the Sport and Physical Activity School Health Check provides a framework to assess and improve school programs based on five key areas: policy, quality sport, physical activity throughout the day, community engagement, and staff involvement. This isn't about ticking boxes—it's about creating comprehensive wellbeing strategies with direct academic benefits.
Want to transform student wellbeing and learning outcomes? Contact the NSW School Sports Unit for tailored support and access their extensive resources through the teacher hub.

Link to NSW School Sports Unit:

https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/curriculum/school-sport

Links and References:

To view our Professional Learning Offerings, visit:
https://www.nswppa.org.au/professional-learning
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Chapters

1. Introduction to NSW School Sports Unit Series (00:00:00)

2. James Boyer: Sport as a Wellbeing Strategy (00:02:05)

3. School Swimming and Water Safety Program (00:09:49)

4. Physical Activity and Brain Health Research (00:18:25)

5. The Sport and Physical Activity Health Check (00:24:49)

6. Peter Carty: Disability and Inclusion in Sport (00:29:54)

7. Pathways for Students with Disabilities (00:32:52)