Established 2012 Headteacher John Weeks Phone +44 20 3301 1480 | Chair of Governors Barnaby Lenon Founded 2012 | |
Address 322 High St, London E15 1AJ, UK Hours Closed today SundayClosedMonday8AM–5PMTuesday8AM–5PMWednesday8AM–5PMThursday8AM–5PMFriday8AM–5PMSaturdayClosed Similar Chobham Academy, Brampton Manor Academy, Leyton Sixth Form College, NewVIc ‑ Newham Sixth For, St Bonavent Profiles | ||
The London Academy of Excellence (LAE), is a selective free school sixth form college located in the Stratford area of the London Borough of Newham, England. It has approximately 440 pupils and 32 teachers.
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Background
The school first opened in 2012 in collaboration with seven independent schools - Brighton College, Caterham School, Eton College, City of London School, Forest School, Highgate School and University College School, six of which continue to support the school as 'partner schools'. Its close relationship with Eton College has led to the school being dubbed 'the Eton of the East End' by the national media.
LAE is a flagship of the Conservative government's academies programme. It was visited by Michael Gove in February 2014, who called it a "superb new free school". As well as state funding, the school benefits from an annual benefit of £500,000 from HSBC, and thus is able to offer sports and recreation activities, clubs, societies, a lecture programme and an outreach program to compliment academic studies.
The school is selective, as it interviews candidates before giving a conditional offer which depends on their GCSE results. In 2012, 5 'B' grades were needed at GCSE. From 2013, this became 5 'A' grades. In 2014, the school was criticised by Lyn Brown, the local MP, after it emerged that the school consistently 'kicks out' students who do not achieve 3 'C' grades in exams at the end of Year 12.
In 2015, the Sunday Times awarded the school with the title of 'The Sunday Times Sixth-form College of The Year'. It was the first free school to be named the best sixth form in the country". In 2016 eight students gained offers from Oxford University and the University of Cambridge, receiving much national media attention.
Results
The school was first inspected by Ofsted in 2014, when it was rated 'good'. They praised the school's partnerships and quality of teaching.
In 2015, 96% of students achieved 3 A levels at A*-E, which is significantly higher than the national average. The average point score per A level entry for the school was 234.6, which is significantly higher than the national average. 24% of students achieved grades ABB or higher in at least two facilitating subjects at A level, which is significantly higher than the national average.