Excelsior Academy

This article is about the school in Newcastle-on-Tyne. For the school in Hackney, North London, see The Excelsior Academy.

Excelsior Academy Newcastle
Address
Denton Road Newcastle Upon Tyne , Tyne and Wear , NE15 6AF United Kingdom
Coordinates	54.97487°N 1.69021°W / 54.97487; -1.69021
Information
Type	Academy
Motto	Think Differently
Religious affiliation(s)	None
Established	1 September 2008 (2008-09-01)
Closed	Saturday and Sunday
Local authority	Newcastle
Department for Education URN	135423 Tables
Ofsted	Reports
Executive Principal	James Andriot
Gender	Mixed
Age	3 to 19
Colour(s)	Grey (main colour), Blue (logo), Dark Green (Hadrian), Burgundy (Milburn), Purple (Collingwood), Light Green (College)
Website	excelsioracademy.laidlawschoolstrust.com

Excelsior Academy is a mixed all-through school and sixth form. It was opened in September 2008 as a replacement for the Westgate Community College[1][2] and is situated in the west end of Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.[3]

The academy was originally for secondary school pupils aged 11 to 18 including a sixth form. It had four sections to the school, which were Jefferson, Milburn, Hadrian and Armstrong.

In mid-2013, Armstrong and Jefferson merged into one large school named Collingwood. In 2012 it was announced that the school would create a primary school called Rainbird, and have an age range of 3 to 19.[4]

The three main secondary schools are based on their own specialist subjects individually:[5]

Schools	Date	Specialism	Headteacher(s)[6]
Milburn	2008–Present	Health and Fitness	Claire Goodwill (2018–Present) David Hughes (2008 - 2018)
Hadrian	2008–Present	Environment and Technology	Kirsty Ruffle (2016–Present) Craig Taylor (2008 - 2016)
Collingwood	2013–Present	Art and Creativity	Michael Connolly (2013–Present)
Rainbird	2013–Present	N/A	Charlotte De Oliveira (2013–2023)
College	2012–Present	N/A	Sara Massingham (2018–Present) Deon Krishnan (Acting, 2018) Claire Goodwill (2015 - 2018) Martin Farrar (Former) Lynn Aitchison (Former)
Former Schools	Date	Specialism	Headteacher(s)
Jefferson	2008 - 2013	Dance and Performing Arts	Michael Connolly (2008 - 2013)
Armstrong	2008 - 2013	Business and Enterprise	Lynn Aitchison (2008 - 2013)

The school is currently part of the Laidlaw Schools Trust[7][8] and is sponsored by Lord Laidlaw.[9][10]^[circular reference][11]

The academy has also been listed in the 200 most improved schools nationally identified by the Department for Education.[12]

Logo from 2008-2015

Notable people

• Irvine Laidlaw, Baron Laidlaw – founder and sponsor[13]

Alumni

• Michael Hoganson - professional footballer for Newcastle United and Derby County.[14]
• Kema Sikazwe - Actor in I, Daniel Blake[15]

References

1. "Excelsior Academy, Newcastle-upon-Tyne | The Good Schools Guide". Retrieved 24 August 2019.
2. "Excelsior Academy School Links - GOV.UK".
3. "Excelsior Academy - GOV.UK".
4. "Excelsior Academy | Newcastle Support Directory".
5. "Excelsior Academy - 3 Point Media - YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
6. "Staff List - Excelsior Academy - Laidlaw Schools Trust" (PDF).
7. "Our Academies - Laidlaw Schools Trust".
8. "THE LAIDLAW SCHOOLS TRUST - GOV.UK".
9. "Excelsior Academy on Twitter".
10. Baron Laidlaw Charity Donations
11. "laidlawfoundation.com". The Laidlaw Foundation. 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
12. "Education example - National Conversation on Health Inequalities - Public Health England". YouTube.
13. "Lord Laidlaw - Laidlaw Schools Trust".
14. "Derby County's Michael Hoganson Presents Sports Awards".
15. "Kema Sikazwe – Q&A by Year 6 pupils from Shilbottle Primary School - Highlights Rural Touring Scheme".

External links

• School website
• Laidlaw Schools Trust