LAE benefits from a highly educated teaching staff with the vast majority having attended the same Russell Group universities that many of our students aspire to study at, including Oxford and Cambridge. More than three quarters of our teachers hold Masters degrees and more than a quarter hold PhDs, meaning that they are well placed not just to deliver challenging A-Level specifications but also to promote deeper and more creative engagement with their chosen academic disciplines.

If you are interested in joining our team, please check our job vacancies page.

If you wish to speak to a particular member of staff or governor, please contact reception. 

Senior Leadership Team

Alexander Crossman, Headteacher 

Educated in state schools in one of the most deprived communities in the West Midlands, Alex graduated with a double first from the University of Oxford and with distinguished higher degrees from the London School of Economics and Political Science and the UCL Institute of Education. Prior to joining LAE, Alex served as a Deputy Head at a sponsored academy in Brixton, the founding Head of one of London’s most successful secondary free schools and the Chief Executive of an education consulting firm based in the Middle East but operating worldwide. Teaching is Alex’s first calling but his second career. Previously, he was a Managing Director with global responsibility for strategy at one of the world’s leading investment banks. Alex is the author, most recently, with Ian Warwick, of 'Greater Expectations: Enabling Achievement for Disadvantaged Students' (Sage 2024).

Eve Rahman, Deputy Headteacher

Growing up just outside Belfast, Eve attended Methodist College, Belfast before studying International History at the London School of Economics and Political Science, completing a PGCE at the Institute of Education and a Masters in Educational Leadership at the University of Warwick. Eve worked at St Bonaventure’s School for 15 years, teaching History and Politics and was the Deputy Director of the Sixth Form. Having dedicated her career to teaching disadvantaged students in East London schools, Eve is passionate about LAE’s social mobility agenda.

Emma Nelson, School Business Director

Emma started her career in Accounting and Finance and has worked in the Education sector for over 20 years with experience across mainstream funded schools, multi-academy trusts and further education. Emma combines the skills and professionalism of a qualified accountant with a genuine passion for improving the life chances of young people through education. Having worked at a Senior Leadership Level for over a decade Emma is responsible for all aspects of Finance, HR, Estate & Facilities Management, Catering, IT and Administration at the London Academy of Excellence.

Ray Degiorgi, Assistant Head (Research in Learning) 

Raymond Degiorgi joined LAE in 2014 as a teacher of French and Spanish. Before joining LAE, he taught at Calderstones School, Liverpool and completed his PGCE at the faculty of Education, University of Cambridge. He has a degree in MFL from Université Paris Diderot, and an MPhil in History from the same university. He spent a year in the University of Seville for his Erasmus exchange and one year in the National University of Colombia to write his dissertation. At LAE, Raymond has been part of the Professional Learning Team and Head of House team for the past four years. He has also lead the MFL department for seven years. As Assistant Head Ray has a particular interest in pedagogy and evidence-based approach in Teaching & Learning. 

Michael Huang, Assistant Head (Pastoral and Safeguarding)

Michael has taught Chemistry at LAE since 2017, when he finished his PhD in the same subject at Imperial College, London. Born in Tottenham, he returned to London after attending state schools in Worcestershire and studying as an undergraduate at the University of Glasgow. He a holds a first class MSci degree in Chemistry with European Work Placement. Michael is LAE's Designated Safeguarding Lead, and has leadership responsibility for pastoral care, including behaviour. Michael is responsible for constructing a one-year curriculum to strengthen student applications to Medicine degrees, in place since 2018, and is interested in developing sixth form-oriented practices for PSHE.

Sarah Macpherson, Assistant Head (Personal Development)

A graduate of the University of Edinburgh, Sarah completed her PGCE at the University of Oxford.  Following a successful career teaching at the British School of Brussels and at James Allen's Girls' School, Sarah joined LAE in 2017 where, as department lead in Politics, she has promoted multiple subject and whole school events on civic engagement.  As Assistant Head, Sarah leads on the LAE Professional Skills Diploma, working with student leaders as well as external providers to provide a wide range of opportunities for students' personal development. Sarah is also co-ordinator of international university applications.  

Oliver Savvides, Assistant Head (Academic)

Oliver joined the London Academy of Excellence in 2015, having read Economics at Royal Holloway and UCL. Throughout his time at LAE, he has enjoyed holding a variety of positions, from Head of House in 2017 to Head of Economics since 2018. Oliver has helped establish a robust super-curricular enrichment programme, which has helped students secure a world-class set of university destinations and career outcomes. He is looking forward to further expand the opportunities on offer to LAE’s student body and alumni network.

Heads of Subject

Subject	Lead Teacher
Biology	Jennifer Castle-Miller
Chemistry	Jonathan Maydom
Economics	Michael Healer
English Literature	Daniel Ingman
Geography	Marina Marouda
Government & Politics	Luke Flynn
History/History of Art	An Pancaldi
Mathematics/Further Mathematics	Maiqi Liu
Modern Languages	Mandy Bolster
Philosophy and Theology	Adrian Mihai
Physics	Matthew Densham
Psychology	Chanelle Clark
SENDCo	Amanda Jones