Liz Durden-Myers

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My route to academia: Liz Durden-Myers

Thursday, 26 March, 2026

Bath Spa University employs experts from a wide range of disciplines to teach across its courses. From the Humanities to the Sciences, its academic staff bring extensive knowledge and experience to their teaching and research. 

In this series, we speak to BSU academics, gaining insight into the journeys that led them into higher education. 

Liz Durden-Myers is a Professor in Physical Literacy and Physical Education in the School of Education at Bath Spa University and a Senior Lecturer at the University of Gloucestershire. A leading voice in the field of physical literacy and physical education, Liz’s work explores how movement and motivation shape people’s lifelong relationships with physical activity. 

Through her research, teaching and policy work, she is helping to shape how physical education is understood both nationally and internationally, influencing the way teachers and schools support young people to develop positive relationships with movement. 

A full-circle moment 

Liz joined Bath Spa University in the summer of 2019 as a Senior Lecturer in Physical Education on the Secondary PGCE PE programme, having previously worked at Liverpool John Moores University where she led an undergraduate physical education programme. 

Returning to Bath felt like a natural step, both professionally and personally. 

“I relocated back home because I was starting a family and wanted to be closer to relatives,” Liz explains. 

Her interview at BSU brought an unexpected moment of recognition. 

“When I walked into the interview room, I immediately recognised one of the panel members,” she recalls. 

“When I was at Norton Hill School, we used to play against Wellsway – and Lou Riddoch was the PE teacher there. So, it felt like a real full-circle moment... to come back to Bath years later and be interviewed by someone who I had previously encountered as part of my school PE and sporting experiences.” 

Since joining the University, Liz’s academic career has skyrocketed. In 2021 she became a Reader before achieving the position of Professor of Physical Education in 2026, a well-deserved recognition of the growing national and international influence of her work. 

Despite her expanding research profile, teaching remains at the centre of what she does. 

“Teaching is where I feel like I belong,” she says. “Working with trainee teachers is incredibly rewarding because the impact doesn’t stop with them, it also reaches all the pupils they will go on to teach.” 

From undergraduate idea to international platform 

Liz’s drive to support teachers began during her own time as a student. 

While still an undergraduate in 2010, she co-founded PE Scholar, a professional platform designed to support physical education teachers by providing access to hundreds of research-informed, high-quality teaching resources, alongside opportunities for professional development and networking. 

What started as an early career teacher initiative has since grown into a widely recognised platform within the PE community.  

“I’ve always been interested in how research can be translated into something meaningful and tangible for teachers,” she explains. 

By bridging the gap between research and classroom practice, the platform has helped support professional learning for teachers working across a range of educational settings.  

A military background 

Alongside her academic work, Liz also serves as a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force Reserve.  

Her experience in the military has shaped the way she approaches leadership and problem-solving within education. 

“One of the things the military really instilled in me was being solution-focused,” she explains. 

“If there’s a problem, we can work our way out of it - but the key is understanding what’s going on first. Once you understand the context, you can then find the strategy that allows you to move forward.” 

Liz is also passionate about supporting others to develop their careers, something she credits to the mentors who supported her own journey. 

“I had lots of hand-ups and hand-outs along the way,” she says. “People really helped shape me, and because of that I feel it’s important to support others who are aspiring to grow and develop in the profession.” 

Shaping the future of physical education 

Today, Liz’s research into physical literacy places her at the centre of national and international conversations around PE, sport and education. 

She regularly delivers keynote presentations at conferences around the world and contributes to policy discussions exploring how schools can better support young people’s physical and emotional wellbeing through movement and physical activity. 

Her work has also informed national conversations about sport and education, including discussions connected to the House of Lords report, “A National Plan for Sport, Health and Wellbeing”. She is currently one of a small group of experts leading the development of the next physical education curriculum in the UK – a significant opportunity at the forefront of shaping how the subject will be taught to future generations. 

Despite this growing influence, Liz says the purpose behind her work always returns to the same goal. 

“The most impact I’ve had in my career is when I’ve helped change someone’s relationship with movement,” she says. 

“When we get it right, we have the ability to help everyone develop a positive relationship with movement and physical activity.” 

Movement for life 

For Liz, helping people develop a lifelong connection with physical activity is what ultimately drives her work. 

“If you have a lifelong relationship with movement and physical activity, it becomes something you can rely on throughout your life,” she explains. 

“It’s been there for me in the highs and the lows – whether I’m feeling under pressure or when things are going well. It’s always been something that has helped me be the best version of myself.” 

That belief continues to shape her work with the trainee teachers she teaches at Bath Spa University. 

“If I can give someone that sense of belonging that I feel when I’m running or playing netball – that joy of movement – then that’s one of the greatest gifts you can give someone,” she says. 

“And if I’ve helped someone find that connection, even in a small way, then I feel like I’ve done my job.”