Oxbridge calling for Tottenham students

Tottenham Hotspur is pleased to announce that 10 current students at the London Academy of Excellence Tottenham (LAET) have been offered places at Oxford or Cambridge Universities for the next academic year, beginning September, 2021.

Based within the Club’s stadium development scheme, the state-funded school is sponsored by Tottenham Hotspur and Highgate School – the principal academic sponsors who, together with support from other leading independent schools, deliver expert teaching.

It prioritises local students most likely to benefit from an academically-rigorous curriculum and those from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, giving Tottenham’s brightest students the best possible chance of accessing top universities.

LAET was recently named The Sunday Times Sixth Form College of the year and is within the top two per cent of state sixth forms nationally.

This is made even more remarkable in the context of the school being situated within one of the two per cent most deprived wards in the country, with 63 per cent of students coming from the lowest two social groups – being described as living in “struggling estates” or “difficult circumstances” – using the ACORN tool for socio-economic analysis.

Meanwhile, 51 per cent have been eligible for free school meals during secondary school, compared with the national average of 28 per cent for all schools and just 4.5 per cent for selective schools.

Around 200 school families are currently being supported by a hardship fund established by the school.

The latest Oxbridge offers have been made across a wide range of academic subjects, including Law, Computer Science, English, Music, Politics and History and Human, Social and Political Science.

Jan Balon, Headteacher, LAET, said: “At such a challenging time for us all, we're delighted that so many LAET students continue to receive offers from elite universities. They are fantastic role models for all young people in Tottenham.”

Donna-Maria Cullen, Executive Director, Tottenham Hotspur, said: “A huge congratulations from everyone at the Club to all LAET students, who continue to achieve incredible outcomes in the face of such challenging circumstances, doing themselves and the area of Tottenham proud. Our credit also goes to the school’s hard-working staff who continue to work tirelessly to provide students with the necessary support at this time.”

Adam Pettitt, Head, Highgate School, said: “This fantastic news adds to the success of LAET’s students in gaining fabulous offers from leading universities across the country. I am proud of them and of their teachers for all the hard work which they have invested - this is a welcome and deserved reward amidst so much uncertainty for these aspirational young people.”