Boy grew up in a rough space academy went onto become a space captain. Read early 1990s.

[Mr]

Thanks in advance. I read this book in the early 1990s from a library in Bradford. The story started with a boy early teens, who was being brought up in a space academy where the older boys attacked the younger boys.
He eventually goes to space and moving from ship to ship gradually being promoted.
At one point he ends in a relationship with his female captain.
Eventually he becomes the captain of his own ship.
Unfortunately that’s as much as I can remember.

[Sarah]

Just possible that this is Star Rebel.

[Mr]

Thank you Sara reading the back of the book it looks very promising.