Excelsior Academy is an all-through mainstream school in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, for children and young people aged 3 to 19. In January 2026, 345 of its 1,339 pupils (25.8%) were getting SEN support and 37 (2.8%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 3–19
- 1,339 pupils
- Ofsted: Requires improvement
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Newcastle upon Tyne.
25.8% get SEN support
345 of 1,339 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
2.8% have an EHC plan
37 of 1,339 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health122
- Moderate learning difficulty117
- Speech, language and communication74
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia32
- Autism15
- Hearing impairment6
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream all-through school
- Run as
- Academy (sponsored)
- Ages
- 3 to 19
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,339 (places for 1,710)
- Headteacher
- Mr Mark Foster (Executive Principal)
- Part of
- The Laidlaw Schools Trust
- Free school meals
- 74.5% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- School reference (URN)
- 135423
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Newcastle upon Tyne council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Requires improvement, May 2024
Rated Requires improvement at its last graded inspection, in May 2024.
- Quality of educationRequires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsGood
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Denton Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE15 6AF
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Broadwood Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.5 miles
- Hadrian School Special school · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.0 mile
- Atkinson Road Primary Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.2 miles
- Trinity Academy Newcastle Special school · Ages 5–16 · Ofsted report card (2025) 1.3 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St Bede's Catholic Primary School, Newcastle Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 16.2%, EHC plans 4.4% 0.3 miles
- Waverley Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 33.7%, EHC plans 2.4% 0.5 miles
- St George's Catholic Primary School, Bells Close Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 33.7%, EHC plans 3.6% 0.6 miles
All mainstream schools in Newcastle upon Tyne SEND schools in Newcastle upon Tyne
Questions about Excelsior Academy
How many pupils at Excelsior Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 345 of the 1,339 pupils (25.8%) were getting SEN support and 37 (2.8%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Excelsior Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (122 pupils), moderate learning difficulties (117 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (74 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Excelsior Academy?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Excelsior Academy?
Through Newcastle upon Tyne council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Excelsior Academy?
You can ask for Excelsior Academy to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Excelsior Academy have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Broadwood Primary School, about 0.5 miles away.
Where is Excelsior Academy?
Denton Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE15 6AF, in Newcastle upon Tyne.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.