The Boxing Academy

Stephen Kelman reading at the Man Group

Anna — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:08:11 +0000

On Monday 14th May students from both Hackney and Tottenham Boxing Academies visited the Man Group HQ next to London Bridge to meet Stephen Kelman, author of ‘Pigeon English’. The event was attended by Man Group employees as well. Stephen gave a reading from the book, and then Richane and Cairo from Pod 3 in Tottenham gave a talk about their impressions of the book, and asked him some questions.

The Man Group Charitable trust is a sponsor of the Boxing Academy. It was a great opportunity for them to meet some of our students and see for themselves how they are doing. For the students, it was a day out in town, with lunch thrown in, and a chance to meet a famous author who was interested in their opinions and very encouraging of their ambitions. Everyone enjoyed it very much and we would like to thank Stephen for his time, as well as Lesley King-Lewis and Lisa Clarke for their hospitality.

Sainsburys’ Try Team at the Boxing Academy!

Anna — Mon, 14 May 2012 08:00:41 +0000

On Wednesday 9th May Kate McBain from the Sainsburys’ Try Team went to the Boxing Academy in Tottenham for a Business in the Community Event. Kate gave the students the benefit of her years working with Jamie Oliver and walked them through a cooking demo: Sticky Sausages, Chicken and Chorizo Paella and Lemon Pudding.

Some of the students showed a real aptitude for cooking, and everyone really enjoyed their lunch! Thanks to Kate and Sainsburys’ for such brilliant day. Also thanks to Kay Horne, our Tottenham Business in the Community Connector, who set this up.

Shaquille, Artur, Jason and Michael with Kate

The healthy living campaign gets underway

Jamie Oliver eat your heart out!

Shaquille shows Kate how it's done

Hackney Boxing Academy Open Day a great success!

Anna — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:35:35 +0000

The Open Day at Hackney Boxing Academy

Local schools, neighbours and parents visited to meet the students and staff and find out what we do

Local MP Meg Hillier with some BA students and Anna Cain, Head of the Academy

Making smoothies in the kitchen in preparation for the tasting demo

The boxing skills and conflict resolution presentation in the Gym

Michael Firth from Tom's Trust and the Royal Navy team visit the ICT classroom and learn about the online teaching methods used

Max Malkin from HiTZ and Adele Eastman from the CSJ with a parent watching the healthy eating presentation in the BTEC Sport classroom

Dylan, current student (featured in the Daily Star, 20th March 2012)

Anna — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 21:15:47 +0000

“I was getting into fights and arguments with teachers [in mainstream school], but now I’m looking forward to passing my exams and going on to college.”

Chandler, current student (featured in the Daily Star, 20th March 2012)

Anna — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 21:09:33 +0000

“If I was in mainstream school I wouldn’t be as fit. I got kicked out of school for fighting so at first it didn’t make sense to me to be sent to a place where you train in fighting. But now I can see it works. Boxing controls me and I’m not so easily wound up. I walk away from fights on the street because I know the consequences. I feel less angry and would think twice before an argument.

I’ve been coming for two years and I really love it – I actually want to come to school every day. When I leave I want to gain some building qualifications and go into construction. I’m good at fixing things so perhaps I’ll be an electrician or a carpenter.

I feel the teachers here understand us and allow us to express ourselves.”

Elliott, current Yr 10 student

Anna — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 17:21:45 +0000

“Before I begun at the Boxing Academy I was very badly behaved in my school and had a problem with authority and struggled to listen to instructions. At first impressions it sounds bad but as you speak to their staff and students you begin to realise this is the best place for you if you do not like the environment in a mainstream school. In the Boxing Academy the rewards and punishments are more suited to me for example rather then a detention you do press ups or a physical punishment and as a reward you can get money – prizes etc. If this placement was not offered to me I would probably be out all day smoking cannabis and getting up to trouble but now I’m here it has helped to get my anger out on boxing and get an education.

This is the first time I ever looked forward to going to school.”

JLS at the Boxing Academy

Anna — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 14:14:03 +0000

JLS visited the Boxing Academy in Hackney to show their support for Sport Relief, one of our funders. They met the staff and students and took part in a boxing training session. Everyone was very impressed with how down-to-earth and genuine they were. We really enjoyed their visit. You can read the full report in the Daily Star here.

If you want to see the video report you can find it on our Video Channel.

Boxing Academy graces the cover of the TES

Anna — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 13:48:42 +0000

The Boxing Academy was featured in a cover article in the Times Education Supplement on Friday 16th March. Three of our pupils gave frank and heartfelt interviews to Kerra Madden of the TES for her piece.
They really enjoyed having the chance to talk about their experiences before they came to the Boxing Academy, and put their side of the story across.

Just one correction – Christina has not left us! That was an editorial error. She was just absent on the day the photographer came.

Radio 1Xtra in the Boxing Academy, Tottenham!

Anna — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 10:10:36 +0000

Comic Relief arranged a visit to the Boxing Academy in Tottenham from DJ Target from Radio 1Xtra on Tuesday 14th March. target met with Pod 3 and their pod leader, Peter.

The students did a radio interview talking about how the Boxing Academy has changed their lives and then they took Target for a session in the ring. He survived – just!

Charlie Taylor, DfE Expert Adviser on Behaviour

Anna — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 14:42:27 +0000

“The Boxing Academy is turning around the lives of children with serious behaviour problems, who have often been excluded from mainstream education. They have mixed the discipline and culture of boxing with a rigorous approach to learning and made it a highly successful school. I’m impressed by the work they do and the results they get – every one of their students this year is now in college building on the skills they will need for later life. I’m keen that other schools in similar challenging areas can learn from the principles that the Academy instil.”