The Boxing Academy AP Free School, London
The Boxing Academy AP Free School is a secondary school for pupils aged 12 to 16 in London, part of The Boxing Academy Trust. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2020. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2020)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
The Boxing Academy AP Free School in detail
Getting a place at The Boxing Academy AP Free School
Across Hackney, 75% of families were offered their first-choice secondary school for 2026 entry, and 96% were offered one of the schools they named.
In 2026, families in Hackney lodged 99 appeals against secondary school offers; 56 reached a hearing and 4 succeeded (7.1% of those heard).
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state secondary schools to The Boxing Academy AP Free School are Mossbourne Community Academy (0.4 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 67.2); The Excelsior Academy (0.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 46.6); Clapton Girls' Academy (0.6 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 60.7); and Stoke Newington School and Sixth Form (0.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 52.2).
Mossbourne Community AcademyThe Excelsior AcademyClapton Girls' AcademyStoke Newington School and Sixth Form
The trust
The Boxing Academy AP Free School is run by its own single-school academy trust.
What parents say
16 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Boxing Academy AP Free School (as of September 2025): 88% would recommend the school, 94% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that they would recommend the school (88%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 8 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 63% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 38% to a further education college.
Who goes there
58.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at The Boxing Academy AP Free School has an education, health and care plan (17 of 17 in 2026). The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Rectory Road Rail Station, about 330 metres away (roughly a 4-minute walk).
13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Ottaway Street (->n), 40 metres away.
Primary schools nearby
The primary schools closest to The Boxing Academy AP Free School are Benthal Primary School (0.1 miles), St Scholastica's Catholic Primary School (0.2 miles), Nightingale Primary School (0.2 miles) and Northwold Primary School (0.4 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.
Benthal Primary SchoolSt Scholastica's Catholic Primary SchoolNightingale Primary SchoolNorthwold Primary School
Sources: DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport)
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from February 2020, 6 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school excels at helping young people who have struggled with traditional education. The combination of small group learning, boxing training, and strong pastoral support creates an environment where pupils thrive. Staff go the extra mile to help each pupil overcome barriers to learning and attendance, and guide them successfully towards their next steps in education or work.
Key Strengths
- Strong sense of belonging and family atmosphere where pupils feel cared for and supported
- All pupils learn boxing with professional coaches, significantly boosting mental health, confidence and resilience
- Teachers have excellent subject knowledge and adapt lessons to pupils' needs, with frequent recap of key concepts
- Bespoke support programmes help pupils catch up quickly, including effective strategies for those with special educational needs
- Comprehensive careers guidance and workplace visits help pupils make informed decisions about their future
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with strong systems in place to keep pupils safe and staff who quickly identify and support any pupils having difficulties.
Extracurricular Activities
Boxing, residential trips including kayaking and paddle boarding, hiking, college visits, workplace visits, counselling, PSHE and relationships education programmes
The Boxing Academy AP Free School is an alternative provision for pupils aged 12-16 that combines academic learning with boxing training. The school has been rated Outstanding across all key areas of inspection.
At a Glance
58.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
16 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby secondary schools
Keep up with The Boxing Academy AP Free School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Boxing Academy AP Free School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Boxing Academy AP Free School is in Hackney; for families living there:
Apply to Hackney for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 94
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 18
- Children hurt
- 15
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 94 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 18 serious and 76 slight.
15 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 8 on foot, 4 on a bicycle and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise.
15 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Hackney is 169 (the median across 105 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
35%
Available places
17 pupils
48 places
31 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - London
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for London
Across Hackney council
Places available
2,489
Applications
2,029
Got 1st preference
74.6%
Got preferred school
95.8%
All secondary applications across Hackney council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
17
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
17
Total Pupils
14
Boys
3
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
17
Teachers
1.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£58,074
Mean salary
2026 data
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
The Boxing Academy AP Free School
Showing 10 of 12 linked schools
Questions parents ask about The Boxing Academy AP Free School
What is The Boxing Academy AP Free School's Ofsted rating?
The Boxing Academy AP Free School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2020, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for The Boxing Academy AP Free School?
No fixed boundary. When The Boxing Academy AP Free School is oversubscribed, Hackney allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to The Boxing Academy AP Free School?
The Boxing Academy AP Free School has around 17 pupils on roll. 59% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to The Boxing Academy AP Free School?
Apply through Hackney's coordinated admissions process, naming The Boxing Academy AP Free School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near The Boxing Academy AP Free School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 94 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 18 serious and 76 slight. 15 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 8 on foot, 4 on a bicycle and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise. 15 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Hackney is 169 (the median across 105 schools, same distance and years).
Where is The Boxing Academy AP Free School?
The Boxing Academy AP Free School is at 1 Monteagle Way, Hackney, London, E5 8PH.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)