Do Sports Really Boost School Marks? What Maltese Research Says

For years, parents and teachers in Malta have debated a simple question: does playing sport help students perform better in school, or does it distract them from their studies? With SEC exams in English and Mathematics carrying so much weight for young people’s futures, this is not just an academic debate — it’s a national concern.

A recent study by Brian Saliba and Ayrton Zarb provides some answers. Their research, involving over 200 Maltese secondary school students who had just sat their SEC exams, investigated whether participation in sport was linked to better academic performance.

The findings: sport helps — especially in maths

• Students who played sport regularly achieved significantly higher grades in both English and Mathematics compared to those who didn’t.

• The link was stronger in Mathematics than in English. Regular physical activity appears to sharpen the kind of problem-solving and concentration skills that maths demands.

• Importantly, the positive effect remained even after controlling for factors such as gender and number of exams taken.

What this means for Malta

This research adds weight to international evidence that sport is not a distraction from academics, but a support to it. Far from “wasting time,” regular physical activity appears to equip students with better focus, resilience, and learning capacity.

In the context of Malta’s new education strategy (2024–2030), the message is clear:

• Schools should not sideline PE or extracurricular sport in favour of exam prep.

• Investment in sports programmes and facilities may be one of the smartest ways to raise academic standards.

• Parents should see sport not as competing with studies, but as a partner to academic success.

The big takeaway

In a system where SEC results can define futures, Malta must rethink its approach: keeping children active is not just about health — it’s about education itself.

Reference:Saliba, B., & Zarb, A. (2024). The impact of sport participation on academic performance among Maltese secondary school students. Faculty of Education, University of Malta.