The UK’s Department for Education has selected McLaren Construction to build a new Boxing Academy in Clapton, designed to serve young students requiring an alternative to mainstream education.
The contract, awarded through the DfE Construction Framework 2021, will transition the school from its temporary location to a permanent site on Brooke Road.
The Boxing Academy, currently operating in temporary facilities on Monteagle Way in Hackney, has received an ‘Outstanding’ grade from Ofsted in its latest inspection.
The Academy’s Trust focuses on leveraging the discipline of boxing to provide quality education and has seen success with students who have faced challenges in traditional educational settings.
Holmes Miller, the appointed architects, have maximised the limited space available, creating a 1,500m² building that ensures privacy for students while allowing natural light into classrooms.
The design features classrooms surrounding a private courtyard, optimising the use of space.
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By GlobalDataMcLaren Construction’s expertise in handling construction on constrained urban sites will be crucial, especially given the proximity to residents, businesses, and a school, as well as the Red Route traffic restrictions.
The project will also offer T-level placements, apprenticeships, and work experience opportunities, with a focus on promoting construction careers to local youth.
The Boxing Academy’s staff, students, and parents will be engaged in the construction process through tours and presentations, fostering a sense of involvement and anticipation for the new school.
This project adds to McLaren’s portfolio in the London Borough of Hackney, where they have earlier delivered seven other educational facilities.
Completion of the Boxing Academy is scheduled for September 2026.
In a related update, McLaren Construction’s Midlands and North division has recently completed a cold storage facility in the UK for Magnavale, a provider of temperature-controlled warehousing and logistics services.
