Excelsior Academy
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 and is situated in the west end of Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
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.
The three main secondary schools are based on their own specialist subjects individually:
Schools | Date | Specialism | Headteacher |
Milburn | 2008–Present | Health and Fitness | Claire Goodwill David Hughes |
Hadrian | 2008–Present | Environment and Technology | Kirsty Ruffle Craig Taylor |
Collingwood | 2013–Present | Art and Creativity | Michael Connolly |
Rainbird | 2013–Present | N/A | Charlotte De Oliveira |
College | 2012–Present | N/A | Sara Massingham Deon Krishnan Claire Goodwill Martin Farrar Lynn Aitchison |
Former Schools | Date | Specialism | Headteacher |
Jefferson | 2008 - 2013 | Dance and Performing Arts | Michael Connolly |
Armstrong | 2008 - 2013 | Business and Enterprise | Lynn Aitchison |
The school is currently part of the Laidlaw Schools Trust and is sponsored by Lord Laidlaw.
The academy has also been listed in the 200 most improved schools nationally identified by the Department for Education.
Notable People
- Irvine Laidlaw, Baron Laidlaw - Founder and Sponsor