Stoke students roll with the punches

Birches Head Academy teams up with local police for Boxing Awards 

Students at Birches Head Academy have begun a six week boxing programme to increase levels of discipline in the classroom. Boxing Awards began at the end of 2013 and is a new initiative introduced to the school in partnership with Staffordshire police.

Boxing Awards started its Staffordshire journey in Cannock. After its success in the area; Staffordshire Police suggested the six week programme to other schools in the county. The project is a fully backed scheme open to schools all over the UK.

The scheme allows students to learn about boxing, self defence and discipline in a safe, non competitive environment, with every participant that completes the course receiving a diploma.

Male and female students at Birches Head participated in the Boxing Awards scheme in the school’s drama hall at the beginning of the 2013 autumn term and the project will continue on an ongoing basis.

Nicola Humphries, Safety Schools Officer and Samantha Lacey, Behavior Support Worker at Birches Head Academy worked with Andy Whitehall from Birches Head’s local policing team to coordinate the project aimed at year seven, eight and nine students.

“The students were very fond of the scheme and the staff really reaped the benefits of the activity,” commented Katie Dixon, Vice Principal of Student Services at Birches Head Academy. “We had some really strong contenders this year and we’re already forward planning for next year’s effort. We want to train another member of staff here so that we have more flexibility and so that we can deliver the programme on an annual basis.

“Birches Head students Tyler Forrest, Amy Austin, Lewis Rawlingson, Adrian Attwood, Leah Dunkley and Tia Dunkley all took part in the scheme. The project has enabled us to tie in fitness, fun and discipline in a really simple and effective way. Boxing Awards is something that students and staff both look forward to seeing in their timetables,” explained Dixon.

“Birches Head Academy appreciates that not all young adults choose to take conventional career routes. It’s important to lead these students in the right direction. The boxing course teaches skills directly linked to behavior in the classroom and it’s been an extremely positive scheme,” commented Karen Healey, Birches Head Academy’s head teacher.