Peacock Gym Academy Staff, Canning Town

The Team Behind the Academy

The Peacock Gym Academy has been run by a small, committed team of teachers, tutors, coaches and mentors. Many brought specialist qualifications, and several were former Academy students who came back to help the next group. These are the staff who ran the Academy, with their roles as listed at the time.

Management and Teaching

Laura Bowers – Head of the Peacock Gym Academy

Laura led the Academy as Head and led on the BTEC Performing Arts and Work Skills courses. She taught dance and drama and organised extra-curricular events such as theatre trips. Laura holds a BA (Hons) in Dance, achieved a Jazz Award Silver in Modern Theatre, performed in dance showcases nationwide and received training in Inter-agency Child Protection. See her instructor profile.

Dunston Walker – Management Team Leader

Dunston managed the Academy’s budgeting and fundraising and secured its working partnerships. He graduated with a BA in History and an MA in Twentieth Century American History.

Deonne Newby – Management Supervisor & English Functional Skills Teacher

Deonne helped manage the Academy and taught English. She holds a BA Hons in Youth & Community Work and previously worked as a Year Head Leader at Sarah Bonnell School and as an Arts Youth Worker in Barking & Dagenham.

Rezwana Khanom – Attendance & Welfare Officer

Rezwana looked after registration and attendance, and the Service Level Agreements and contracts with schools. A BSc International Politics graduate, she had mentored at a secondary school teaching GCSE English and was a semi-finalist in a public speaking competition sponsored by Citi Group.

Tasneem Islam – Marketing Executive

Tasneem handled marketing and PR, kept the Academy’s social media updated and networked with schools for referrals. She holds a BA in Business Management, specialising in marketing.

Bianka Nixon – Business Teacher

Bianka delivered Business and helped students find college courses and apply for jobs. Her qualifications include a Level 3 Award in Business Skills, an Edexcel BTEC Level 2 in Team Leading and a Level 3 certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement.

Anthony Oladipo – Teaching Assistant

Anthony started as a volunteer and stayed on thanks to his positivity. With a BA Hons in Business Economics, he helped Bianka teach Work Skills and how to run a business.

Vocational and Creative Tutors

Kate Newby – Hair and Beauty Teacher

Kate held an NVQ Level 3 and 2 in Beauty and NVQ Level 2 in Hair, and taught a Level 1 Introduction to the Hair and Beauty Sector. Dermalogica trained, she helped run the Peacock Salon.

Shelley Pettifer – Exams Officer

A qualified hairdresser of 21 years, Shelley helped run the Peacock Salon and made sure the Academy’s modules and exams ran properly.

Louis Bowers – Music Teacher

Louis taught music on the Performing Arts course. A gigging multi-instrumentalist teaching piano, guitar, bass and drums, he holds a National Diploma in Popular Music.

Sport and Fitness

Owen Matthews – Sports Tutor

Owen delivered sports qualifications and gym classes, gave 1:1 mentoring and led personal development workshops. He also founded the Development Plus Plus Project for young people affected by crime and violence.

Dean Newby – Sports Tutor

Dean delivered Sports Level 1, including basketball, and gave one-to-one mentoring to help students improve their behaviour.

Raf Karnus – Fitness Trainer

A qualified personal trainer and Mixed Martial Arts trainer, Raf ran fitness sessions that built discipline as well as fitness. He has taught self-defence, Judo, Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu among other sports.

Andre Olley – Boxing Coach

Andre had over 20 years’ coaching experience, coached the Peacock Amateur Boxing Club and opened the Montegal Boxing Club with Tony Byford. A former professional heavyweight, he is a qualified ABA Senior Coach and first aider. See amateur boxing.

Student Mentors

Jodie Robson – Head Student Mentor

Jodie showed leadership as an Academy student, received Mentor Training with the Streets of Growth and went on to work at the Academy full time. She is a qualified first aider.

Brandon Gaunt – Student Mentor

A former student, Brandon gained a qualification in Hair & Media make-up and returned to help deliver the Hair & Beauty course and lead fitness sessions.

Shah Uddin – Student Mentor

Shah studied the Post-16 Sports course and, after making strong progress, joined as a mentor supporting the Sports programme.

Read more about how the mentors supported students on our Student Care & Support page.