Cities / London / London Academy of Excellence
London Academy of Excellence
State-funded selective sixth form in Stratford, sponsored by Eton. A-Level only. Free entry.
Reviews
- LAE is a state sixth form, not a fee-paying international school, and reviews reflect that. Pupil and applicant voice dominates over parent voice.
- The dominant note is academic intensity. Pupils across r/sixthform, r/GCSE and r/6thForm describe LAE alongside Newham Collegiate and Brampton Manor as one of London's most competitive entry sixth forms.
- Outcomes are repeatedly cited. Recent cycles have produced 60-plus Oxbridge offers a year, with the school flagging that around half of those offers go to pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, in care, on free school meals or first in their family to apply to university.
- Pace and support cut both ways. One ex-pupil said LAE Stratford's policy of dropping students to two A-levels mid-course was "really shitty" after they slipped in mocks; others describe the school as a launchpad and credit the partnerships with Eton and Highgate-style independent schools.
- The most public controversy concerns alleged Islamophobia. Around 30 ex-students campaigned in 2022 saying that since 2015 prayer was banned on premises and pupils faced detentions for praying, with reports of girls being questioned over hijab and remarks like "when are you going to Syria?" An independent investigator's report later concluded there was "no evidence" of discrimination by the school or staff but criticised the post-2015 over-reliance on a leased external prayer space at Stratford Westfield.
- Wraparound life is sparse. The school sits in office floors above Sainsburys at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, so on-site facilities are limited compared with traditional schools.
Head of school
Alexander Crossman
The London Academy of Excellence (LAE) is a sixth form school for scholars of all backgrounds, cultures and experiences. LAE consistently delivers outstanding A level results for all students but has achieved particular success helping students from less-advantaged backgrounds win places at the best universities in the UK and around the world. LAE is one of the highest-performing academic sixth forms in the United Kingdom. But the school is about much more than grades. Our intellectually exciting curriculum encourages a love of scholarship and a sense of wonderment about the world. Our students study hard but also throw themselves into a rich and rewarding co-curricular programme--including sport, music and the performing arts and opportunities for civic engagement. This broad-based education allows students to explore their interests, develop their character and refine their talents. Our students have a strong sense of pride in belonging in the diverse, inclusive and friendly LAE community centred on London’s dynamic East End. Students challenge each other to achieve more than they might alone, but also encourage and support each other along the way. They are championed by an exceptional staffing body that is personally invested in their wellbeing and achievement. Students leave our care as happy, confident young people ready to change the world for the better. The LAE has direct, established relationships with six leading independent schools and with the universities of Oxford and Cambridge. These relationships help us to ensure that our students receive an education that is as rich and rewarding as any in the world. It is a privilege to be the Head of this extraordinary school and a part of its wider community. I hope you will take time to learn more about what makes LAE such a special place to learn.
Accreditations
- OFSTED 01
Academic results
- A* at A Level 2023 25%
- A* / A at A Level 2023 64%
- A* / B at A Level 2023 92%