Girls punch abover their weight at Manningham school (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Springwood Community Primary School running boxing classes for girls

10:22am Tuesday 28th June 2011 in Bradford By Kathie Griffiths

Girl power rules at a Bradford primary school with the start of a new boxing class.

PE teacher Luke Swift ran a six-week non-contact boxing class for the boys at Springwood Community Primary School in Wood Street, Manningham, and when it was over his girl pupils demanded a go too.

Mr Swift said: “It was only fair. The boys had a fantastic time and the girls wanted to try it out for themselves.”

The boxing class idea began when three of the school’s teachers went to train at Bradford College’s Boxing Academy.

“It’s all no-contact so no-one gets hurt,” he said. “The girls are very excited about their classes starting and we’ve got some special help.”

Saira Tabasum, who is a student of Bradford College’s Boxing Academy, attended yesterday to put the girls through their paces and show them how it is done.

“It’s great she’s agreed to help us and it’s fantastic the girls will see such a superb young Asian girl role model,” said Mr Swift. “Boxing isn’t a conventional type of hobby for most seven to nine-year-olds but there’s lots of skills involved, the emphasis is on getting fit and enjoying it.”

Now he is hoping when the latest course finishes he will be able to run something more permanent.

“Ideally we’d like to put something on different nights for different age groups but we’ve got good contacts at the college so we’re hoping they might help make it happen,” he said.

• Read the full story in Tuesday's T&A