Excelsior Academy, which currently provides first class education provision for 11 to 18-year-olds in Newcastle's west end, is submitting a proposal to widen the age range of the Academy.

It plans to open a primary phase on site, initially providing classes for 30 Reception and 30 Year One pupils from September 2013, and build up each year until there are 30 children in each age group from Reception to Year Six. Excelsior's proposal to develop "all-through" education is based on the many advantages that pupils are benefitting from in all-through Academies in other parts of the UK.

The proposal should also help to address an expected shortage of primary places in coming years in the west of Newcastle where it is anticipated that there will not be enough school places to match the number of children of primary school age.

Executive principal, Phil Marshall, said: "With just a small re-adjustment to our buildings we can accommodate younger pupils. The support of our sponsor, Lord Laidlaw, means that Excelsior Academy offers fantastic opportunities to secondary school children in the area - it would be fantastic if we could extend those benefits to children of all ages in Newcastle west."

The decision to submit the application follows a period of consultation with parents and members of the community who have been very positive about the plans.

Advantages of the "all-through" school model include greater continuity and curriculum progression between primary and secondary education which helps to ease the transition from Year 6 to Year 7 which can be a worrying time for many pupils and parents.

Phil said: "Our small schools model - which is unique nationally - means that our pupils all enjoy high levels of personalised support and are taught in small classes in an exceptionally well resourced new building. Our plans mean that we will be able to offer this to children from a much younger age within our community.

"We work closely with all of our feeder primary schools, and believe that through having primary provision as part of Excelsior we will be able to improve the transition experience for all pupils who transfer to Excelsior Academy from all of our feeder schools."

For more information contact MDA on 01670 785000.