The wrestling club guiding pupils back into school

A 13-year-old boy who was excluded from school has turned to wrestling to help him "get his head down and focus" on his education.

Bradford AP Academy, a referral unit aiming to get children back into mainstream schools, has partnered with Kingdom Wrestling, based at a Shipley church, to provide training.

Thomas, who was helped by the scheme, said: "I have ADHD and struggle a lot to control [it], but when I came here it was different."

Gareth Thompson, founder and coach at Kingdom Wrestling, said he aimed to be a "good role model" for the youngsters, adding Thomas was a "natural".

Mr Thompson said: "I can coach him on something once or twice, and he hits it perfectly every single time.

"He's got the charisma that some professional wrestlers are missing. The future is bright for him."

Thomas has chosen the wrestling name "Ben Angel" after Mr Thompson, who has been known in the ring as "Gaz Angel" since he started 15 years ago.

Mr Thompson set up the training school after suffering abuse as a child and finding himself homeless at the age of 15.

He said: "I had every adverse childhood experience in the book which could have led me down a different path, but I managed to avoid it. My faith is a massive part of that.

"I want these lads to have a good role model, for that to be a positive thing for the community. That's why I do this.

"It brings me purpose and fulfilment - I wish I had this when I was their age."

Teachers say the behaviour of children taking part in the sessions has already improved, Mr Thompson said, after just two months of one-hour weekly sessions.

Chris Hall, higher level behaviour learning practitioner at the academy, said the pupils would "never have had the opportunity" to do something like this previously.

"It's new, different and exciting, and somewhere to channel the energy that they don't get a chance to while sat in a classroom," he said.

"The training has given them a chance to let go and to be the centre of attention in a safe environment."

Brodie, like Thomas, had a series of fixed-term suspensions at his old school which led to him being excluded permanently.

"It's a really good thing to do, you're moving about and using energy," he said. "You get to throw them all about and mess about."

Mr Hall said there has been a "marked change" in both boys, thanks to the classes being used as a reward at the end of the week and helping to burn some of their "boundless" energy.

"Both of them are flying academically, flying socially, and they are key members of the school now," he added.

Thomas is set to take part in a wrestling performance to about 170 people at the weekend, which has been choreographed with Mr Thompson.

"It inspires me to be good and to be strong, rather than like, vicious," he added. "Gaz inspires me to be like what I am now: a wrestler."

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