At LAE, we believe that academic potential should open doors.

We are an academy school, with core funding from the Department for Education. This funding is essential to the running of the school, but it does not cover the full breadth of education and opportunities we want to provide for our students. Philanthropic support enables us to go beyond what public funding alone can provide – helping us to offer the enrichment, careers and mentoring opportunities, pastoral support, co-curricular activities, facilities and wider experiences that are an important part of an LAE education.

Why LAE matters

LAE exists to give academically ambitious young people from across East London the opportunity to fulfil their potential. Our students are exceptionally talented, and our academic outcomes reflect that: in 2026, 95% of A-level grades were awarded at A*–B, with more than two-thirds at A*–A, and our students progressed to some of the country's leading universities and degree-level apprenticeships.

At the same time, LAE has a clear social-mobility mission. Around half of our students are eligible for Free School Meals, and many come from communities in Newham, Tower Hamlets and neighbouring boroughs where access to high-quality post-16 education has historically been limited. Our ambition is not simply to help students achieve excellent results, but to ensure that their academic ability is matched by access to the experiences, networks and opportunities that can shape what they go on to achieve.

What makes an LAE education?

Excellent Teaching

At the heart of LAE's success is excellent teaching and learning. Our core curriculum is delivered by expert teachers who stretch and challenge students to achieve at the highest levels. Academic outcomes and university destinations are one measure of this success, but so too is the quality of the educational experience we provide every day.

Co-curricular Activities

Education extends beyond the classroom. Our co-curricular programme gives students opportunities to develop confidence, teamwork, leadership, creativity and independence through sport, societies, clubs and student-led activities. These experiences help students develop the qualities they will draw on long after they leave LAE.

Futures Programme

We want every LAE student to leave us with a strong understanding of the opportunities available to them beyond sixth form, and the knowledge, confidence and networks to pursue them.

For many of our students, access to professional networks and first-hand insight into different careers is not something they have had naturally through their school or family networks. Our Futures Programme helps to broaden those horizons. Through talks from professionals, mentoring, workplace visits, work experience and support from our partners and alumni, students can hear directly from people working in a wide range of sectors and begin to understand pathways they may not otherwise have encountered.

Pastoral Care

Academic success depends on more than what happens in the classroom. We want every student at LAE to feel known, supported and able to make the most of their time with us.

Our pastoral provision gives students access to support when they need it, including access to a counsellor for every student, alongside a network of trained pastoral staff within the school who can provide guidance and help students navigate the challenges of sixth form.

Why philanthropy matter?

As an academy, LAE receives core funding from the Department for Education. This funding provides the essential foundation for the school, but it does not cover everything we believe our students need to thrive.

Philanthropic support enables us to build on that foundation: expanding opportunities beyond the classroom, strengthening careers and mentoring provision, supporting students' wellbeing and development, investing in facilities and creating opportunities for students to meet people and experience environments that can broaden their horizons.

This support is not about providing a different education to a select group of students. It helps us enrich the education available to every student at LAE.

Would you like to support LAE?

There are many ways to support our students. You might choose to make a financial contribution, introduce us to a business or organisation that could work with LAE, offer your professional expertise or networks, or help us create opportunities for our students. If you would like to learn more about how you could support LAE and our students, please get in touch with Han O'Gorman, Head of Partnerships and Fundraising, at han.ogorman@lae.ac.uk