PRO-BOXING trainer Paddy Fitzpatrick is hoping to put youngsters through his school of hard knocks.

Paddy, who runs the Fitzpatrick Boxing Academy, in Ferndale Road, is looking to enrol 25 school-leavers aged between 16 and 19 on a new course which will see students leave with the equivalent of four GCSEs and a coaching badge.

The BTEC level 2 diploma course and level 2 NVQ boxing coaching is set to start in September and so far two places have been taken.

Paddy said: “We have been working on this for a few years now and we want to launch it this year.

“The plan is to get 45 children, 20 in Oxford and 25 in Swindon, to come full-time and do a sixth-form education at the gym.

“I’m hiring a teacher to work out of the gym and I will teach them the boxing.

“They will end up with the equivalent of four GCSEs after the course and anyone these days needs that to get to college.

“It will be just like going to school but a lot of kids just don’t get it. I was one of them.

“When I was in Atlanta, in the US, I was dossing around so I had to go back to college as an adult.

“But if I could have done it as a youngster then that would’ve been better.

“I know the kids will respect working with two of the guys I’m putting on the course.

“I’ve been working with them for years and they can help the new ones to learn.”

One person who has enrolled on the course is 18-year-old Joe Beeden.

He said it would offer him the chance to get into the sports industry, something he previously could not have done.

He said: “I left school at 16 with four GCSEs and since then I’ve worked now and again.

“I’ve just been doing whatever I can, labouring mainly, “But I want to do something with boxing.

“I think this is going to help me achieve my aims. It’s a great opportunity and it will get people off the streets.”

For more information on the course, contact Paddy on 07917104000 or him at info@ theboxingacademy.com.