Croydon’s best secondary schools 2025

Trying to find the right school for your child in Croydon? You’re in the right place.

With so many options, many parents find themselves drowning in league tables and Ofsted reports. That’s exactly why we’ve done the heavy lifting for you. Our expert team has analysed the latest 2023/2024 Department for Education data to bring you a list of the top-performing state secondary schools in Croydon.

We show two ranking tables, one for Progress 8 and one for GCSE 9–7 results, and also provide a complete list of all secondary schools in Croydon. This full list includes Progress 8 scores, GCSE 9–7 percentages, and Ofsted ratings where available. The schools in this table are ordered alphabetically rather than ranked, so you can easily see every school in one place, even if some data points are missing.

Top secondary schools in Croydon by Progress 8

Coloma Convent Girls' School in Croydon is currently ranked #1 in Croydon based on its published Progress 8 score of +0.52. Progress 8 is a headline accountability measure used by the Department for Education to show how much progress pupils make between the end of primary school and their GCSEs, compared to students with similar prior attainment nationally.

RankSchool nameTypeGenderProgress 8Ofsted ratingGCSE 9-7%
1Coloma Convent Girls' SchoolAcademy converterGirls+0.52Requires improvement33.53%
2Harris Academy South NorwoodAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.45Good21.38%
3Coombe Wood SchoolFree schoolsMixed+0.38Good21.47%
4St Mary's Catholic High SchoolVoluntary aided schoolMixed+0.29Good11.21%
5Norbury High School for GirlsAcademy converterGirls+0.27Good19.52%
6Harris City Academy Crystal PalaceAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.24-26.5%
7Harris Academy PurleyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.23Good15.64%
8Riddlesdown CollegiateAcademy converterMixed+0.14Outstanding23.02%
9The Archbishop Lanfranc AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.1-13.15%
10St Joseph's CollegeAcademy converterBoys+0.04Good11.14%
11Harris Academy Beulah HillAcademy converterMixed0-17.58%
12Woodcote High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.07Good20.38%
13Oasis Academy Shirley ParkAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.07-11.46%
14Harris Invictus Academy CroydonFree schoolsMixed-0.1Outstanding13.55%
15Thomas More Catholic SchoolVoluntary aided schoolMixed-0.13Good12.12%
16Oasis Academy CoulsdonAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.15Good17.34%
17Archbishop Tenison's CofE High SchoolVoluntary aided schoolMixed-0.18Good17.82%
18The Quest AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.35Requires improvement12.36%
19BRIT School for Performing Arts and TechnologyCity technology collegeMixed-0.36-19.47%
20Oasis Academy ArenaAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.5Requires improvement9.55%
21Shirley High School Performing Arts CollegeAcademy converterMixed-0.51Good9.6%
22Meridian High SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.7Good7.64%
23Chaffinch Brook SchoolAcademy special converterMixed-1.4Good0%
24Bensham Manor SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-1.54Outstanding0%
25Beckmead CollegeAcademy special converterMixed-2.75Good0%

Note: Rankings use 2023/2024 CSP data for state-funded schools and may not reflect recent changes, check school websites for the latest information.

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Top secondary schools in Croydon by GCSE % 9–7

Trinity School in Croydon is currently ranked #1 in Croydon based on the percentage of GCSE grades awarded at 9–7. This measure highlights how many pupils achieve the very top exam results, giving a clear picture of each school’s academic excellence.

RankSchool nameTypeGenderProgress 8Ofsted ratingGCSE 9-7%
1Trinity SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--82.19%
2Whitgift SchoolOther independent schoolBoys--77.68%
3Croydon High SchoolOther independent schoolGirls--73.31%
4Old Palace of John Whitgift SchoolOther independent schoolGirls--61.45%
5Royal Russell SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--58.47%
6The Laurels SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--53.16%
7Al-Khair SchoolOther independent schoolBoys--46.58%
8The Cedars SchoolOther independent schoolBoys--45%
9Al-Khair Secondary GirlsOther independent schoolGirls--40.84%
10Coloma Convent Girls' SchoolAcademy converterGirls+0.52Requires improvement33.53%
11Harris City Academy Crystal PalaceAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.24-26.5%
12Riddlesdown CollegiateAcademy converterMixed+0.14Outstanding23.02%
13Coombe Wood SchoolFree schoolsMixed+0.38Good21.47%
14Harris Academy South NorwoodAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.45Good21.38%
15Woodcote High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.07Good20.38%
16Norbury High School for GirlsAcademy converterGirls+0.27Good19.52%
17BRIT School for Performing Arts and TechnologyCity technology collegeMixed-0.36-19.47%
18Archbishop Tenison's CofE High SchoolVoluntary aided schoolMixed-0.18Good17.82%
19Harris Academy Beulah HillAcademy converterMixed0-17.58%
20Oasis Academy CoulsdonAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.15Good17.34%
21Harris Academy PurleyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.23Good15.64%
22Harris Invictus Academy CroydonFree schoolsMixed-0.1Outstanding13.55%
23The Archbishop Lanfranc AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.1-13.15%
24The Quest AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.35Requires improvement12.36%
25Thomas More Catholic SchoolVoluntary aided schoolMixed-0.13Good12.12%
26Oasis Academy Shirley ParkAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.07-11.46%
27St Mary's Catholic High SchoolVoluntary aided schoolMixed+0.29Good11.21%
28St Joseph's CollegeAcademy converterBoys+0.04Good11.14%
29Shirley High School Performing Arts CollegeAcademy converterMixed-0.51Good9.6%
30Oasis Academy ArenaAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.5Requires improvement9.55%
31Cambridge Tutors CollegeOther independent schoolMixed--9.09%
32Meridian High SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.7Good7.64%
33Croydon Metropolitan CollegeOther independent schoolMixed--5.26%
34Bensham Manor SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-1.54Outstanding0%
35Beckmead CollegeAcademy special converterMixed-2.75Good0%
36Chaffinch Brook SchoolAcademy special converterMixed-1.4Good0%
37Bright Minds Creative AcademyOther independent special schoolMixed--0%
38OlympusOther independent special schoolMixed--0%

Note: Rankings use 2023/2024 CSP data for state-funded schools and may not reflect recent changes, check school websites for the latest information.

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All secondary schools in Croydon

Below is the complete list of secondary schools in Croydon, including both state-funded and independent schools where data is available. This table provides an at-a-glance view of each school’s key performance metrics, including Progress 8 scores, the percentage of GCSE grades awarded at 9–7, and Ofsted ratings, where published.

School nameTypeGenderProgress 8Ofsted ratingGCSE 9-7%
Abingdon House School PurleyOther independent special schoolMixed---
Addington Valley AcademyFree schools specialMixed-Good-
Al-Khair SchoolOther independent schoolBoys--46.58%
Al-Khair Secondary GirlsOther independent schoolGirls--40.84%
Archbishop Tenison's CofE High SchoolVoluntary aided schoolMixed-0.18Good17.82%
Arise AcademyOther independent special schoolMixed---
Ark Blake AcademyFree schoolsMixed-Good-
Aspire LearningOther independent special schoolMixed---
Aya College (Educational Provision)Other independent schoolMixed---
BRIT School for Performing Arts and TechnologyCity technology collegeMixed-0.36-19.47%
Beckmead CollegeAcademy special converterMixed-2.75Good0%
Bensham Manor SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-1.54Outstanding0%
Bright Minds Creative AcademyOther independent special schoolMixed--0%
Cambridge Tutors CollegeOther independent schoolMixed--9.09%
Chaffinch Brook SchoolAcademy special converterMixed-1.4Good0%
Coloma Convent Girls' SchoolAcademy converterGirls+0.52Requires improvement33.53%
Coombe Wood SchoolFree schoolsMixed+0.38Good21.47%
Croydon High SchoolOther independent schoolGirls--73.31%
Croydon Metropolitan CollegeOther independent schoolMixed--5.26%
Cumnor House SchoolOther independent schoolBoys---
Harris Academy Beulah HillAcademy converterMixed0-17.58%
Harris Academy PurleyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.23Good15.64%
Harris Academy South NorwoodAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.45Good21.38%
Harris City Academy Crystal PalaceAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.24-26.5%
Harris Invictus Academy CroydonFree schoolsMixed-0.1Outstanding13.55%
Meridian High SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.7Good7.64%
Norbury High School for GirlsAcademy converterGirls+0.27Good19.52%
Oasis Academy ArenaAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.5Requires improvement9.55%
Oasis Academy CoulsdonAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.15Good17.34%
Oasis Academy Shirley ParkAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.07-11.46%
Old Palace of John Whitgift SchoolOther independent schoolGirls--61.45%
OlympusOther independent special schoolMixed--0%
Priory SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-Good-
Riddlesdown CollegiateAcademy converterMixed+0.14Outstanding23.02%
Royal Russell SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--58.47%
Rutherford SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Shirley High School Performing Arts CollegeAcademy converterMixed-0.51Good9.6%
St Giles SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-Good-
St Joseph's CollegeAcademy converterBoys+0.04Good11.14%
St Mary's Catholic High SchoolVoluntary aided schoolMixed+0.29Good11.21%
Supreme Education APOther independent special schoolMixed---
The Archbishop Lanfranc AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.1-13.15%
The Cedars SchoolOther independent schoolBoys--45%
The Laurels SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--53.16%
The New SchoolOther independent schoolMixed---
The Quest AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.35Requires improvement12.36%
The Write TimeOther independent special schoolMixed---
Thomas More Catholic SchoolVoluntary aided schoolMixed-0.13Good12.12%
Trinity SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--82.19%
Whitgift SchoolOther independent schoolBoys--77.68%
Woodcote High SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.07Good20.38%

Source

Disclaimer

All data on this page is sourced from the Department for Education’s 2023/2024 Compare School Performance dataset. It includes state-funded and, where available, independent secondary schools. Some schools may be missing data for Progress 8 scores, GCSE 9–7 results, or Ofsted ratings due to unpublished or unavailable figures. Rankings are based only on schools with published data and may not reflect recent changes. Please check school websites for the latest information.

How we ranked the best schools in Croydon?

Why trust our rankings? Our analysis is based on the latest 2023/2024 data from the Department for Education’s Compare School Performance (CSP) database, which publishes official performance data for all secondary schools in England, including both state-funded and independent schools where available.

We’ve created separate tables to highlight top performers in three key areas:

  • Progress 8 (pupil progress from KS2 to GCSE)
  • GCSE 9–7 grades (academic excellence)
  • Overall school listings, with available Ofsted ratings

Schools are primarily ranked by their Progress 8 score. This clever metric doesn’t just reward schools with high-attaining intakes – it highlights the ones that genuinely support student growth by measuring progress from the end of primary school to GCSEs. It adjusts for prior attainment, making it one of the fairest ways to compare schools.

Where available, we also show the percentage of GCSE grades at 9–7 to reflect high academic achievement, and Ofsted ratings for added context. All figures come directly from CSP’s official dataset.

Where Progress 8 data is not available for any schools in Croydon, the corresponding table will not be shown. This simply means that no schools in this area had published Progress 8 scores at the time of the latest dataset, it does not reflect on the quality of the schools themselves.

How to support your child at home

Helping your child succeed at school doesn’t just happen in the classroom, the right support at home can make a big difference. Encourage a regular study routine, provide a quiet space for learning, and take an interest in what they’re covering in lessons. Even small actions, like checking in on homework or discussing what they learned that day, can build motivation and accountability.

If you’re looking for extra structure, our GCSE Revision Resources are designed to make studying easier. With expert-written notes, topic-by-topic exam questions, and mark schemes, your child can practise exactly what they need to know, when they need to know it.

Boosting confidence before exams

Confidence can make a huge difference to exam performance. Start by helping your child identify their strengths and weaknesses, then focus revision time on areas that need improvement. Practising under timed conditions can reduce exam-day nerves, while celebrating small wins along the way builds self-belief.

Our GCSE Exam Practice pages include hundreds of past-paper style questions and worked solutions, so students can walk into their exams knowing exactly what to expect. By building familiarity with the question styles and formats, they’ll feel prepared and ready to perform at their best.

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FAQs - best secondary schools in Croydon

Based on the latest Department for Education CSP data, the highest-rated secondary school in Croydon is Coloma Convent Girls' School by Progress 8 and Trinity School by GCSE 9–7 results. In the case of an exact tie across these measures, the first school in alphabetical order is shown here. For full details and to compare all schools, please refer to the performance tables above.
No. This guide covers state-funded secondary schools only, including grammar, comprehensive, academy, and free schools. Independent/private schools are not included in our rankings.
Applications are usually managed by Croydon local authority. You can find deadlines, admissions policies, and catchment area maps on the council’s official website.
Use Ofsted inspection reports, the Department for Education’s CSP performance tables, and our rankings to compare schools side by side. Visit schools during open days for first-hand impressions.
A Progress 8 score above 0 means students make better progress than the national average. Scores above +0.5 indicate well above average progress, while top-performing secondary schools typically achieve +0.7 or higher. The best schools in Croydon consistently score above +0.8.

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