Free schools in the Media

LAE students have worked incredibly hard to receive offers to 21 different courses at Oxford and Cambridge, including our first ever offers for Computer Science, Human Sciences and Anglo-Saxon, Norse & Celtic.  

Over half of the students represent the first generation in their family to gain a place at a university. Half of the offer-holding students attended secondary school in the London Borough of Newham, one of the poorest in the capital. One third of the students have been eligible for free school meals during their secondary education.  

For the competition, pupils debated the motion Farming can become carbon neutral in the future. In front of a panel of judges, students delivered an evidence-based response factoring in the scale of challenges facing the agriculture industry. Laurus Ryecroft beat four other schools on the award shortlist.

Located in Tameside, Greater Manchester, Laurus Ryecroft is a secondary free schools that opened in 2018. It is one of four free schools supported by the Laurus Trust.

Involving running, cycling and a final run, Sarah secured her first place and gold in the 50-54 British Age-Group in what was probably her best race ever and only her second international appearance, improving greatly from sixth place position previously in the European Champs last year in Punta Umbria.

Said Sarah: “I couldn't have hoped for a better race and with a year of injuries, no one could be more surprised than me, especially with the first run, a personal best of 19.20 for 5.1 km.

The prize came about because Sixth Form Geography students led by Head of Geography Mr. Smith wanted to improve traffic flow around Pinner High School. Mr. Smith explained “If we can get more students on bikes and out of their cars it improves the air quality around the school, and reduces congestion which makes the journey to school safer.

Harmonize Academy in Liverpool has made a successful ‘significant changes’ application to the DfE to create additional student places. From the beginning of the September 2021 academic year, the number of students was officially increased from 104 to 150.

The ‘significant changes’ application involved a rigorous and challenging process, requiring Harmonize to clearly demonstrate they have a strong team with educational expertise capable of managing and governing the increased student intake.

Children who joined Canary Wharf College East Ferry, one of the first cohort of free schools to open in the heart of the East End of London, have worked their way from joining the embryo school in Year 2, to receiving their Year 11 GCSE results. 

The students who joined in 2011 to came through the whole of Key Stage 2 in the primary and continue into Canary Wharf College Crossharbour secondary school, received an astounding 94% 9-4 grade pass rate.

The superb A-levels outcomes will have secured the first cohort of Year 13 students with places at top leaving destinations. These include 13% achieving straight A*s and two students gaining entrance to medical school, with the majority of other students obtaining access to top Russell Group universities.

Jane Davies, Headteacher commented: “Throughout a very challenging two years of disrupted
learning, our students have demonstrated considerable resilience and adapted every step of the way
to ensure that they achieved the grades they deserve. I am very proud of both students and teachers
as it has been a terrific team effort all round.”

One student commented, “It’s relieving to know that lots of pieces of work have come together to
decide our final grades. It feels really satisfying.”