Excelsior Academy

School in Newcastle-on-Tyne, United Kingdom

54°58′30″N 1°41′25″W / 54.97487°N 1.69021°W / 54.97487; -1.69021InformationTypeAcademyMottoThink DifferentlyReligious affiliation(s)NoneEstablished1 September 2008 (2008-09-01)ClosedSaturday and SundayLocal authorityNewcastleDepartment for Education URN135423 TablesOfstedReportsExecutive PrincipalJames AndriotGenderMixedAge3 to 19Colour(s)Grey (main colour), Blue (logo), Dark Green (Hadrian), Burgundy (Milburn), Purple (Collingwood), Light Green (College)Websiteexcelsioracademy.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]

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

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