Sixteen boys, five podcasts, one major event, and a school motto: how "From The Boys" is giving a voice to William Ellis pupils

‍By Will Durham

With Trust funding, and wonderfully led by Middlesex University, sixteen Year 10 boys spent their work experience learning to make podcasts about the things boys are usually talked about, rather than talked with.

This autumn, sixteen William Ellis pupils will do something most teenagers never get the chance to do: put their own questions about growing up as a boy today in front of a public audience, in their own words, on their own terms.

The project, "From The Boys," began with workshops earlier this year and grew into a full work-experience placement at Middlesex University's MDX Studios, where the boys, all Year 10, aged 14 to 15, learned to interview, record and produce audio from scratch. Around five episodes are now in production for release this autumn, covering territory that matters to them: underperformance at school, behaviour, masculinity, and the pull of online influence.

It's exactly the kind of project we exist to back at the William Ellis Trust. It sits across all three of our current priorities of Boyhood, helping boys build confidence and a healthier sense of what masculinity can look like; Community, giving pupils a real platform and engaging our local community; and Entrepreneurial Skills, through the hands-on craft of interviewing, recording and producing something and helping with its marketing. As principal funder of the project, alongside welcome support from The Hadley Trust and The Hampstead Wells and Campden Trust, we're proud to have developed and backed the project from the start.

It is also a project that reflects the famous school motto, Rather Use Than Fame. The boys have been working collectively to develop something that is about both them and their peer’s experiences of growing up as teenage males today. It is a project that delivers wider benefit by allowing us an insight into their worlds and perspectives, and centres them as an active part of these important questions, rather than simply being spoken about.

The importance of this was reflected by podcast guests who are leading important innovations in boys’ education. Dr Alex Blower, author of Lost Boys and founder of the Boys' Impact hubs, put it simply: “Boys are often talked about but not with. Podcasts offer a fantastic opportunity to put that right.” He also pushed schools more broadly to give boys real creative opportunities to be heard, not just managed. It is with calls to action like this that our role at the William Ellis Trust really comes into effect, as our supporters enable us to deliver projects that genuinely bring added value to educational experiences.

Jely Kikamba, an MDX Film graduate who now coaches through the school’s long-term partners Arsenal in the Community, spoke openly with the boys about his own difficult childhood and how that programme supported him. This is work he said that mirrors what he now does at his own youth club.

Amol Rajan, on hearing about the initiative, sent the pupils a personal video message giving them tips on interview skills, speaking about how society had changed, and backing their freedom to talk about their feelings and ambitions. 

He said: “Be open, talk to your friends, talk about your ambitions for the future. Shoot for the moon because where you are right now, doing this amazing week at Middlesex University on this incredible project and being in Y10 at William Ellis School, your future is up to you.”

The pupils themselves are clear about what they've taken from it. Jacob, 15, valued learning “media skills such as using podcasting equipment” while talking through real issues in a space that felt supportive rather than exposing. Bobby, 15, pointed to the practical side “communication skills and how to use technology in the recording studios.” Felix, 15, used his episode to dig into the pressure social media puts on young men, one of several threads the group chose to pursue themselves.

The project won't stop with the launch. Middlesex's Dr Helen Bendon and William Ellis headteacher Izzy Jones plan to present “From The Boys” at the National Boys' Impact Conference in September alongside pupils. Learning from the project will be shared, with the hope that schools in different communities can replicate it and help drive regional understanding while empowering their pupils.

“From The Boys” launches on Thursday 22 October at William Ellis School. Register to attend, and become part of the conversation here.

“From The Boys” was made possible through funding from the William Ellis Trust, with additional support from The Hadley Trust and The Hampstead Wells and Campden Trust, in partnership with Middlesex University.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article, and we hope you are inspired by the project. The growth and further development of our work across the school community relies on the continuing generosity of our community and supporters. We would love for you to consider becoming a member of the Rather Use Than Fame Club, our monthly giving initiative, where all donations go directly into expanding educational horizons within the school.

Learn more about the varied ways you can support our mission on our Ways to Give page.