A London sixth form that works with “brilliant” children from deprived backgrounds has become one of the first state schools to be admitted to an elite international school group.
London Academy of Excellence in Stratford will join Eton, Harrow and Winchester as the only UK schools in the World Leading Schools Association.
It is the only state school outside of China to belong to the prestigious network.
As a result, more LAE Stratford students will be able to go to American universities because they can now access scholarships through the association.
Most LAE Stratford students are from low-income households in the East End. The school has been dubbed the Eton of the East End.Headteacher Alex Crossman said the opportunity to go to elite US universities, which are increasingly attractive to high-performing British students, is “life-changing.”Mr Crossman said: “We’re honoured to join a network of schools dedicated to providing needs-blind university access to students from all backgrounds. Most LAE students are ambitious, brilliant young people from low-income homes. Attending a US university is a dream they can only realise bywinning one of the handful of fiercely competitive full scholarships available per university.”
He added: “WLSA’s scholarship programme gives LAE students the best possible chance of realising theiraspiration.”
Around four LAE students every year go to US universities, including Ivy League institutions which include Harvard and Yale. This number is expected to grow substantially as a result of the school’s membership of the WLSA.
To join the group LAE Stratford had to secure the written support of two existing members. Simon Henderson, headmaster of Eton, and Alistair Land, headmaster of Harrow, supported LAE’s application.
The WLSA aims to combat educational inequality and help support university applications by disadvantaged students.
To join, schools must have excellent academic results and a willingness to exchange ideas with the network. They must also provide “need based aid” as part of their admissions package.
