Applications for this PhD project are now open. The deadline for applications is 6 April 2026.
The proportion of children and adolescents with special educational needs is increasing (Duckworth et al., 2025). This includes children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Global data reveal 7.2% and 9.4% of children are diagnosed with ADHD (Danielson et al., 2018; Thomas et al., 2015). While medical intervention helps, symptoms can persist for some children which reduces learning and social skill development which can lead to difficulties with work and interpersonal relationships (Ginapp et al., 2023).
Physical activity has been associated with better social relationships and measures of cognitive function in children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD (Ng et al., 2017; Taylor et al., 2023). Therefore, Dr Taylor and her team designed and piloted a system of appealing, age-appropriate moderate to vigorous physical activities for primary school children that class teachers can use in physical education (PE) classes or after-school clubs (Taylor et al., 2020). Collaborative, multi-school research in 2025 revealed possible refinements to make the system easier for teachers to use within the PE curriculum and ways to further enhance the positive effects for the children.
Email: alyx.taylor@hsu.ac.uk
The aim is to incorporate the recent research results into the design of the physical activities system and test the improved content and delivery over the whole school year.
This programme of study will provide opportunity for both qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the fully developed physical activity system. A multi-centre study including three or more schools will form the main quantitative part of this research.
Testing could include objective measures examples could include observer-rated measure of attention deficit/hyperactivity symptoms, or observer-rated level of engagement, as well as pupil-reported measures for example using the 1 – 10 Borg scale for their perceived intensity of physical activity, or a Likert scale for their enjoyment of the activities.
In addition, the research could include qualitative exploration of different aspects, for example the teachers’ perceptions of using of the new version of the physical activity system as part of the PE curriculum delivery.
This programme of study will enable the development of new content and improved delivery system and provide initial evidence of effectiness for the children and their teachers of the new version of the physical activities for PE to engage children with ADHD.
Positive observations of the children and feedback from teachers in the 2025 studies have added to the evidence of the impact of this intervention. This refinement based on the qualitative data from teachers has the potential for increasing uptake and positive impact in primary schools throughout the UK, helping the children with their learning and social skills development at school, and through encouraging increased physical activity may have long-term benefits for the young people in social and work domains.
HSU is offering up to three fee waivers for UK home applicants starting in October 2026. All eligible UK home applicants will automatically be considered for fee waiver support, which is awarded competitively based on the excellence of the candidate.
International applicants are unfortunately not eligible for fee waivers.
All applicants are expected to have financial plans in place to cover their studies and should not rely on a fee waiver.
Self-funded students are also welcome to apply for this project. Self-funded students can be UK home students or international students.
Available to both UK and International students
Dr Alyx Taylor
Dr Danny Miller
Danielson, M. L., Bitsko, R. H., Ghandour, R. M., Holbrook, J. R., Kogan, M. D., & Blumberg, S. J. (2018). Prevalence of parent-reported ADHD diagnosis and associated treatment among US children and adolescents, 2016. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 47(2), 199-212.
Duckworth, K., Ross, A., & Harding, C. (2025). Young Adult Outcomes for Pupils with SEN. UK Department for Education. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/young-adult-outcomes-for-pupils-with-sen
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