Maria Ellul is a Physical Education teacher with a robust academic and professional background in sports, exercise, and pedagogy. She earned a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Sports, Exercise, and Health, graduating with First Class Honours from The Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) in 2019. In 2020 and 2021, she also received four awards from the Institute for Education (IFE): Award in Teaching Athletics, Award in Fitness, Award in Teaching Gymnastics, and Award in Outdoor Education. Additionally, she obtained a Master of Education in Physical Education from IFE in 2023. That same year, she completed the Malta Football Association (MFA) UEFA Playmakers Deliverers Course.
Her professional career began in primary education, where she has been teaching Physical Education since 2019 at a Maltese Primary Church School. In this role, she has delivered age-appropriate curricula that promote motor skill development, health-related fitness, and the social-emotional benefits of physical activity. Her experience in the school sector provides her with a deep understanding of the educational and developmental needs of young learners, especially regarding physical literacy and lifelong engagement in sports.
In addition to her classroom teaching, Maria has gained substantial experience in sports coaching. She worked as a swimming coach for several years before being appointed Nursery Head Coach at a local swimming club in Malta. In this role, she managed programme design for young athletes, supervised assistant coaches, and introduced structured training frameworks to foster skill development, resilience, and a love of sports from an early age. Although she no longer works in coaching, she still carries all that she has learnt over the years with her.
Maria’s research interests include Physical Education, Analogy Learning, Teaching Methodology, and Sports Psychology. She emphasises how innovative, evidence-based approaches can enhance learning outcomes in primary and youth sport contexts. Her academic work aims to bridge research and practice, ensuring that theory is effectively translated into meaningful experiences for learners.
