When the team here at Studio You partnered with Nike, we knew we wanted to do something bold to redefine PE experiences for teenage girls.

The gender activity gap still exists in PE. In fact, research shows girls’ enjoyment of PE drops by 30% between ages 8 and 15 [1], often due to competitive, one-size-fits-all lessons. And our own research found that 87% of teen girls with negative PE experiences wished they had more of a say in their activities. They wanted PE to be more fun and less competitive.[2]

So, together we set out to flip that script by centering girls’ voices and creating content designed for them, with them. How? By embarking on a co-creation process which had girls leading the development of our brand-new video lesson content.

At Studio You, we’re already well versed about the barriers that girls face when it comes to enjoying PE thanks to our partnership with This Girl Can and Sport England who deliver robust annual research on the topic. But when it came to this content we were particularly interested in digging down and understanding how the least active girls felt about PE. Therefore our journey began with Sport England’s Innovation and Children and Young People teams to understand what is behind meaningful co-creation.

We conducted a large-scale survey of 1000 girls aged 11-16 alongside smaller focus groups which revealed what girls truly wanted from PE: variety, choice, and content that felt positive and inclusive. Many described feeling bored, judged, and disconnected in traditional classes. When in fact, they wanted the opposite – “happy vibes,” and above all else, fun. These findings became the foundation for everything that followed.

To ensure the insights girls’ were sharing with us weren’t being diluted or lost as content development progressed, we engaged a ‘steering group’ of girls aged 14–16. In December 2024, this steering group joined an in-person co-creation workshop to design their dream PE experience. They created mood boards and shaped the tone of voice that would, in a few months, become Studio You x Nike. Bright, bold visuals, body-positive imagery, and vibrant backdrops emerged as clear favourites. Girls also influenced the structure of lessons, requesting bite-sized videos under 10 minutes, divided into three progressive levels – actualised in the Nike hub as ‘Start, Build & Practise’ – so they could increase skills at their own pace.

We spoke to them about different disciplines too; those they already loved from the existing Studio You video lessons and what they’d like to see more of. From this, Studio You x Nike selected seven disciplines to feature, including brand new disciplines for the platform: strength, mental fitness, meditation and breathwork.

Every element, from the activities to the aesthetic, reflects what girls told us they wanted. But we didn’t forget about teachers. We recognised our dual audience: consulting with teachers and the Association for PE to ensure anything we created also worked within the parameters of the school environment. The result? Our professional Nike Trainers (endorsed by girls!) brought credibility and excitement, while teacher-friendly supporting resources ensure lessons fit seamlessly into the curriculum.

The outcome of the process? Authentic collaboration, not token consultation. This was summarised well by one girls’ reflections after the workshops: “It feels really good to know that my voice was heard.” By centering youth voice, Studio You x Nike aims to help girls build a positive relationship with movement – one that lasts beyond the classroom – and one that understands exercise is not just about winning, it’s about building confidence, well-being, and self-expression for years to come.

We want to help you keep co-creation at the centre of you PE lessons – embedding it in your commitment to listening, learning, and creating spaces which help transform PE into something every girl, no matter their experience, ability, or background can look forward to. Together, we can tackle the gender activity gap and make PE more inclusive. So if you’re looking for fresh ways to embed girls’ voices into your lessons, why not check out the Nike hub here.