Ages 
Bright sparks who are keen to work hard and seize the myriad opportunities on offer will flourish at this outstanding sixth form. Thoughtful, articulate, mature, curious and polite, they’re the kind of teenagers who are going to make a positive impact on the world.
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Headteacher
Headteacher
Alexander Crossman
Since 2021, Alex Crossman MA (Oxon) MSc.Econs FRSA FCCT , previously head of The Charter School East Dulwich, one of London’s most successful free schools. He grew up in Chelmsley Wood in Solihull, attending ‘a series of universally failing schools’
Entrance
Applicants need a minimum of five 7-9 grades, with at least 6s in maths and English language, plus specific requirements for subjects they wish to study at A level (7-9 for most but 9 for further maths).
The school gets around 5,500 initial
- Open days
- November
Exit
Very impressive - 95 per cent get an offer to a Russell Group university. In 2024, 25 to Oxbridge and 40 medics. More a third head to Imperial, UCL, LSE and King’s College London. Growing numbers to the US – one or two each year. STEM subjects lead
% students progressing to higher education or training (2021 leavers)
What is this?
The proportion of 16-18 students that progressed to degrees, higher apprenticeships or other study at level 4 or above for at least 6 consecutive months in the 2 years after taking advanced level qualifications (level 3) at this school or college.
Latest results
In 2024, 72 per cent A*/A at A level (92 per cent A*-B).
A level - Average points score (2024)
What is this?
These figures tell you the average grade and average points that pupils achieved in their academic qualifications. A maximum of 60 points are available for a grade A* at A level.
Teaching & learning
Students are expected to work hard – and they most certainly do. All year 12s embark on four A levels (they have 15 subjects to choose from), although three-quarters drop the fourth by the start of year 13. ‘Our rationale for doing this is clear,’
- Qualifications taken in 2024
- A level
- EPQ
Learning support & SEN
LAE has a dedicated SENCO who works closely with teachers and advises on students’ learning needs. Teachers can refer pupils to her if they reckon they need additional support. Around 50 students have learning support, with a fifth of them accessing
Arts & extracurricular
There’s plenty going on beyond the academic curriculum. ‘Academic sixth forms can have a reputation for being all about exams but the students here are so proud of the additional stuff they do,’ says the deputy head. Year 12s finish lessons at 1.15pm
Sport
For a school with no outside space of its own there’s lots of sporting endeavour. Pupils do 90 minutes of sport on Thursday afternoons – LAE brings coaches on-site to run Boxercise and yoga classes and makes the most of venues like the Olympic Park,
Ethos & heritage
Founded in 2012, LAE was the brainchild of two inspiring heads – Richard Cairns, head of Brighton College, and Joan Deslandes, head of Kingsford Community School in Newham. They met on a bus in Beijing and found they shared an enthusiasm for Mandarin
Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline
The school’s key values are excellence, kindness, respect, humility, independence and resilience and these underpin everything. ‘It’s not all study, study, study,’ a parent told us. ‘Their goal is to help students achieve but they focus on mental
Pupils & parents
The biggest cohort from individual schools is rarely more than ten and some don’t know anyone at all when they start. ‘Most of them are in the same situation because everyone is new at the same time,’ says the deputy head. Another teacher described
Money matters
The school still has the benefit of HSBC funding and a number of other donors. Bursaries are available for students in need, including an LAE discretionary bursary that helps to pay for academic resources, travel to and from school, educational
The last word
Bright sparks who are keen to work hard and seize the myriad opportunities on offer will flourish at this outstanding sixth form. Thoughtful, articulate, mature, curious and polite, they’re the kind of teenagers who are going to make a positive
