Judy Murray explains why PE is as important as maths

Health & FitnessLifestyle
9 Dec 2025 • 3:01 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • Tennis coach Judy Murray has called for physical education to be prioritised in all Scottish schools, advocating for a minimum of 40 minutes of daily exercise for youngsters.
  • Murray emphasised that 'physical literacy is just as important as numerical and alphabetical literacy' and that sport develops crucial life skills like leadership, resilience, and communication.
  • She announced the expansion of her 'Learn to Lead' scheme, which empowers young girls to become sporting leaders by helping them establish and manage school clubs.
  • Thanks to investment from Sky, the 'Learn to Lead' programme will now be available in 50 additional schools across Scotland.
  • A recent Sky report highlighted that girls aged 11-18 miss 280 million hours of sport annually compared to boys, and that childhood sport participation is a strong indicator of future success.

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