This is the only place I've ever fitted in. People here listen to my ideas and give me the space to grow instead of making me feel left behind.
Student
The tools I used at EOB were advanced – way more professional than I thought it would be – which has been great to get into the world of games design.
Student
Before EOB Academy, the only place I felt safe was at home when I was gaming. School was a very negative and painful experience for me.
Student
I really like going to EOB. My tutor’s really supportive and he’s helping me to understand why I get stuck sometimes. He is also a lot of fun which makes learning a lot easier.
Student
At EOB it’s a friendly environment where I felt comfortable to be. It’s helped me not only in game design, but also in my social skills helping me open up to other people.
Student
My EOB experience has been overwhelmingly positive and accommodating. My complex mental and physical needs have been met, and every step has been taken to make sure I’m comfortable. The teachers are friendly and approachable, I know I can go to them for help both with lessons as well as personal problems.
Student
My EOB experience has been overwhelmingly positive and accommodating. My complex mental and physical needs have been met and every step has been taken to make sure I am comfortable. Everyone is very understanding of not just my needs, but the needs of everyone else in the class as well. The teachers are friendly and approachable, I know I can go to them for help both with lessons as well as personal problems. The course has been very easy to follow as the instructions are given in a very clear and understandable way. I feel I am really able to develop my skills in both coding and socialisation, as the environment is very welcoming and allows you to come out of your shell. Both the creative side and coding side of the course are equally enjoyable and being able to combine those skills to make games is extremely satisfying. Completing each step of the course has been a positive experience and I look forward to continuing my education at EOB.
Student
"Enemy of Boredom is located at Letchworth, a small town that does not have the hustle and bustle of other locations that I would find overwhelming due to my autism and anxiety. I have enjoyed learning Game Design at Enemy of Boredom for these past two years because of the support of the tutors and staff helping me to understand the curriculum. They have also supported me to develop socially and have provided many options to boost my confidence and motivation. Over this period, I have a further understanding of Game Design and enjoy modelling in Blender most, while also getting better at Unity. The environment is less overwhelming than other colleges because it has a smaller space, but provides exactly what I need to study Game Design. They always help me to identify and achieve my goals".
Student
Parents & Carers
At school my child used to get himself into such a state of heightened anxiety that he would lash out at his peers and teachers. Things got worse and worse until eventually he developed deep depression and suicidal thoughts. At that point, we accepted that the mainstream schooling system wasn’t for him and made our bravest and smartest decision – to try alternative provision with EOB. From day one, we could see the difference. He had almost 100% attendance and completed his digital media course with distinction. He started believing in himself again, smiling, joining us at the dinner table, engaging in kinder interactions with his younger brother. It felt like we had our lives back.
Parent
EOB Academy put an end to school refusal for our child. She’s on track now to complete the Level 3 Creative Digital Media course and go to university. She wants to be a games designer. She has ASC and mutism, and it reflects the expertise, knowledge, and professionalism at EOB that she’s the college’s star pupil. EOB rocks and we are indebted to it!
Parent
EOB has been a revelation for our family. Throughout his young life our son’s been squeezed into a system that not only did not support him, but also didn’t recognise his incredible talents. Leaving school, he was a child so wrapped into himself he could barely face the outside world. Deciding to send him to EOB was a leap of faith and a game changer. Thank you for everything you have done for him!
Parent
We can’t begin to tell you what an amazing difference this weekly session has made to our young person. She’s always struggled with creative thinking and planning. She’s shared with us their ideas for coming lessons and proudly sends me pictures of her work. To see her so enthused about a creative project has been wonderful.
Carer
You adapted the course to fit my son’s needs and helped him with his life skills. He’s going to start his Maths Degree at University next month. Living in Student Halls and home half-and-half as he grows in independence".
Parent
My son has come on leaps and bounds since joining EOB. Previously a school refuser, he now looks forward to attending EOB due to the calm atmosphere, likeminded peers and great members of staff whom he has a great rapport with.
Carer
My child had had no education since 2021 due to their unmet needs. Right from when he did a couple of taster sessions at EOB, it was evident this was going to be the most suitable provision for him. For autistic youngsters, it’s vital they can tap into their special interests and EOB has been able to provide this. He’s now enthusiastic, happy and has so much more self-belief. I never realised he was so talented in game design.
parent
Watching my son's confidence grow while at Enemy of boredom has been amazing, for a child who would never leave the house or socialise or be creative without me by his side. He now has the confidence to speak for himself. The staff are amazing and enemy of boredom is more of a family feel, which help the children/ young adults thrive.
parent
My child has attended EOB Academy for nearly two years. He has completed level 1 and is currently on course to complete level 2. EOB Academy is the first educational setting that he managed having previously attended an SEMH school. The difference in him has been game changing.
Carer
We honestly can't thank you enough for making such a huge effort to travel to meet our child and for completely turning things around. Once he’s made his mind up about something, it is exceptionally difficult to change it so you really have done an amazing job engaging with him.
Parent
"Finding Enemy of Boredom has been a game changer for my son (pardon the pun). My son left a special school during lockdown and went to a local college with a Foundation Unit. Trying to manage this environment resulted in my sons mental health deteriorating requiring specialist support. Enemy or Boredom is supportive, inclusive and Neurodivergent friendly, which is the complete opposite to what my son had experienced. He is able to learn in a way that works for him, being supported by a highly skilled team that understand the barriers to learning that come with having complex Neuro-divergent conditions".
Parent
"M finished school and had no direction or focus. He struggled socially and was very shy. He was recommended to EOB by a friend and signed up straight away. During the 2 years there his focus and enthusiasm grew, he matured, he became engaged in what he was doing. The staff and students really seemed to bring out his confidence more and he was being more sociable, talking more and making more decisions. I found the course to be extremely beneficial to M and the staff were so kind, patient and respectful.
Will (Tutor) seemed to really understand the students individually and was incredibly supportive. All in all, I would highly recommend this course, both for its level of content and the social aspect. Love, love, love it".
parent
"I wanted to say a huge thank you for supporting M over the last two years. I do not think he would be ready to take the next steps on his education journey without having attended EOB. Jake's tutoring and coaching has been outstanding and this coupled with the safe learning environment and like minded students has enabled M to develop and thrive. Such a difference to the teen who started with you in 2021. M is probably not great at expressing his thanks himself but I know he really appreciates everything the EOB team has done to support him, especially Jake. Hopefully this type of opportunity will be open to more children as it really does show how the right environment can help teens who are struggling with mainstream school or college reach their full potential. Please pass on our thanks to all of the team involved in supporting M".
Parents
"We honestly can't thank you enough for making such a huge effort to travel to meet xxxx and for completely turning things around. Once xxxx has made his mind up about something, it is exceptionally difficult to change it so you really have done an amazing job engaging with him today. We have found throughout xxxx’s time at school that in order to overcome his anxiety and feel settled he needs to connect with an adult so I'm sure that will be key when he starts at EOB and possibly on the taster day as well. I'm sure xxxx will have some ups and downs with his anxiety before the taster day but at the moment we are feeling really optimistic that he will make it in, which seemed completely unthinkable even yesterday".
Parent
“Before we found EOB both of my children struggled to find their place in education, they didn't fit and attendance and motivation were difficult. At EOB they were encouraged to be themselves, develop their skills and learn new ones. Confidence grew with a sense of belonging. Guidance and the support to explore their own creativity. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, quick to act to support individual needs. Enrolment was easy and all my questions were answered. Necessary support was put in place with staff going the extra mile to have training on specific medical needs. Certainly they have gained life skills and confidence to take next steps with confidence".
Parent
"Thank You all so much for supporting J and allowing him to study your amazing course. We are so very happy that he passed J wasn’t confident with the written part due to his dyslexia. Most important that he enjoyed the course learning using industry software. Who can say they’ve studied “Game Design”. You adapted the course to fit into J’s needs and helped him with his life skills. He’s to start his Maths Degree at University at Hertfordshire next month. Living in Student Halls and home half - half as he grows In independence".
parent
'*name* said he liked it! Which is absolutely amazing. He was keen to tell me what he had been doing, and seemed very positive about it. This is a massive step for him, and I’m over the moon that we have finally found something that could potentially work for him 🤞. So all good for September! With a very slow transition to start, led by *name*. Enemy of Boredom is absolutely amazing, what you all do there is great, I was very impressed. All thought out very well, and giving every child a chance to thrive".
parent
"B has had a very positive experience at EOB. He works well in a calm environment and is able to work independently. He is very happy to go and enjoys the work he is doing. B attended mainstream up until Year 4. He spent most of Year 2 out of the classroom, then all of Years 3 and 4 in a room on his own with 1 -1 support. He found the school environment extremely distressing. He would regularly run out of the classroom and try to escape. They made adjustments and tried very hard to support B. Even with his EHCP in place and evidence that he wasn’t coping we were told he didn’t meet the criteria for a place in a specialist school. He was given outreach support from The HUB (behaviour support unit). He was then excluded from school in the December of Year 4. This resulted in B being given a place at The Hub in Year 5. To begin with B enjoyed his time there but soon struggled with the controlled environment. B was restrained/held regularly this was a very distressing time and has had a lasting effect on B. It has been a very stressful journey. B has complex needs and is a perfect example of one of the many children that need something different. B is in the best place ever emotionally, mentally and physically. We as parents are grateful for the opportunities he has been given. He is thriving".
parents
Professional Voices
Our pupil always returns to school with nothing but positive feedback on his day spent at Enemy of Boredom. He is enthusiastic for it and about it and it does wonders for his self-esteem. It enables him to explore an area of interest for him which in turn enables him to feel good about his learning and achievements.
Assistant Headteacher
EOB is a fantastic provision where our students have thrived. They have helped students re-engage back into learning and come back to school each week, in a positive mind frame. EOB are inclusive and have really supported our Autistic students and allowed them to access a provision and learning that really inspires them and has helped increase their confidence, self-esteem and mental wellbeing.
SENCO
I am a ‘friend’ of Enemy of Boredom following a visit to one of their centres. I was very impressed with a number of aspects of their delivery: the strategic vision of the managers and their strong culture of care and support; the expertise of their tutors and the sensitivity with which they taught the young people; the engagement and motivation of the young people and their knowledge and skills development. It’s an essential and specialist offer for a group of young people who would otherwise have limited scope of educational engagement.
School Leader
Enemy of Boredom is not just an alternative provision that offers an engaging qualification, but is a place where children can thrive. The learning environment is small and enables positive working relationships to be built between the child, adults and their peers. The atmosphere is respectful and welcoming. The children have reported that they like EOB because they feel like they are in a real workplace and love to wear their own clothing which makes them feel like an adult. Many of the children who attend enjoy making new friends and doing something that they love. As a school we have been very happy with the engagement seen from our learners and love the sense of achievement that they have. We are really happy with the weekly updates shared from the team and when visiting the provision we have seen happy and engaged learners. Kind regards.
SENCO
The children tell me they like EOB because they feel like they are in a real workplace and love to wear their own clothing which makes them feel like an adult. Many of the children who attend enjoy making new friends and doing something that they love. As a school we have been very happy with the engagement seen from our learners and love the sense of achievement that they have. We are really happy with the weekly updates shared from the team and when visiting the provision we have seen happy and engaged learners.
Assistant Head
EOB have been instrumental in providing our Year 11 students with a unique opportunity to understand and experience the video games industry. The students have undertaken a Level 2 Games Design Course, one day a week, and have developed a breadth of different skills and experience including production, games design, and coding.
