Shinsei pupils visit Cambridge University

A pioneering alternative provision supporting young people at risk of exclusion has been building an inspiring partnership with the University of Cambridge, helping to challenge long-held perceptions about what pupils from Tameside and across Greater Manchester can achieve.

Shinsei Academy, founded nearly two years ago by former Tameside assistant headteacher Chris Cluitt, works with pupils who are at risk of exclusion, have been permanently excluded, or who struggle to attend mainstream school. Since opening, the academy has developed strong links with schools across the borough and the wider Greater Manchester area.

The provision offers a distinctive programme that combines full-contact martial arts training with academic learning, alongside comprehensive SEND support, including counselling. Staff aim to help young people reconnect with education, build confidence and develop positive pathways for the future.

In October 2025, a group of Shinsei pupils travelled to Cambridge University for a landmark visit. Hosted by the university, students toured one of its historic colleges and shared lunch in the student dining hall before taking part in a sparring session at the Cambridge University Amateur Boxing Club.

The visit marked a historic moment, with Shinsei Academy becoming the first alternative provision of its kind to be formally hosted by the university in its 800-year history. For every pupil involved, it was their first time visiting a university.

Throughout the day, students were described as curious, engaged and eager to learn more about university life, the institution’s history and the opportunities available through higher education.

On March 10, a smaller group of Shinsei pupils returned to Cambridge as guests of the university boxing club to watch the 118th Oxford versus Cambridge Varsity Boxing match — an experience that further strengthened the growing relationship between the academy and the university.

Chris Cluitt, lead teacher and founder of Shinsei Academy, said the visits were about raising aspirations and challenging stereotypes.

“Many of the young people we work with have had difficult experiences in education and can sometimes feel that opportunities are closed off to them,” he said. “Visiting Cambridge University was about showing them that their futures can still be full of hope and possibility.

“It was incredibly powerful to see our pupils walking through the colleges, asking questions and imagining themselves in a place they may never have thought accessible.”

He added: “Trips like this matter because they challenge the narrative around exclusion. These are capable young people who simply need the right environment and support to thrive.”