Academy sponsor led · Croydon

Harris Primary Academy Benson

3–11Ages
238Pupils
PrimaryPhase
139905URN

West Way, Shirley, Croydon, CR0 8RQ · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jun 2023 Previous framework

Outstanding

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

4.2per place

1.2 above Croydon median (3.0)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Croydon

125 applications for 30 places · 11th of 74 in Croydon

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

74%met the expected standard

Croydon 71% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Outstanding · 7 June 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education	Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes	Outstanding
Personal development	Outstanding
Leadership and management	Outstanding
Early years provision	Outstanding

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

4.2applications per place, Reception

1.2 above Croydon median (3.0) 2.0 above England median (2.2)

125 applications · 30 places offered · 36 named it first

2026 4.2; Croydon median median 3.0
2025 5.1; Croydon median median 3.1
2024 4.5; Croydon median median 3.1
2023 3.8; Croydon median median 3.0
2022 3.6; Croydon median median 3.1
2021 3.9; Croydon median median 2.9
2020 3.7; Croydon median median 3.1
2019 3.4; Croydon median median 3.1
2018 3.8; Croydon median median 3.4
2017 4.9; Croydon median median 3.4
2016 3.3; Croydon median median 3.3
2015 2.5; Croydon median median 3.4
2014 2.5; Croydon median median 3.5

This school
Croydon median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	30	125	4.2	36	1.20
Sep 2025	30	153	5.1	39	1.30
Sep 2024	30	135	4.5	29	0.97
Sep 2023	30	114	3.8	32	1.07
Sep 2022	30	109	3.6	34	1.13
Sep 2021	27	104	3.9	16	0.59
Sep 2020	29	107	3.7	15	0.52
Sep 2019	39	131	3.4	26	0.67
Sep 2018	39	147	3.8	28	0.72
Sep 2017	30	146	4.9	27	0.90
Sep 2016	45	147	3.3	40	0.89
Sep 2015	57	140	2.5	39	0.68
Sep 2014	60	152	2.5	44	0.73

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 76% · Writing 88% · Maths 82% → all three 74% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard74%31st of 77 in Croydon

Croydon 71% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard76%

Croydon 81% England 78%

Higher standard24%

Croydon 34% England 33%

Average scaled score 105 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard88%

Croydon 79% England 75%

Greater depth12%

Croydon 12% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard82%

Croydon 82% England 77%

Higher standard24%

Croydon 31% England 24%

Average scaled score 105 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Croydon median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	74%	9%	105	105
2023/24	79%	25%	106	105
2022/23	71%	14%	106	107

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Harris Primary Academy BensonThis school
This school

Outstanding2023

4.2applications per place 74%met the SATs standard
St John's CofE Primary School
0.6 km · Croydon

2026

2.7applications per place 81%met the SATs standard
Forest Academy
0.9 km · Croydon

2026

2.5applications per place 73%met the SATs standard
Orchard Way Primary School
1.5 km · Croydon

Standards maintained2025

3.4applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
Oak Lodge Primary School
1.7 km · Bromley

Standards maintained2024

3.1applications per place 73%met the SATs standard
Applegarth Academy
2.0 km · Croydon

2026

2.1applications per place 88%met the SATs standard
Quest Primary School
2.0 km · Croydon

Good2023

2.7applications per place 44%met the SATs standard
Forestdale Primary School
2.3 km · Croydon

Remains Good2022

2.6applications per place 69%met the SATs standard
Oasis Academy Shirley Park Primary
2.4 km · Croydon

Not yet inspected

2.7applications per place

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Academy sponsor led
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 139905 · 306/2034
Trust: Harris Federation
Capacity: 420 pupils · 238 on roll
Free school meals: 30.9% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 September 2013
Replaced: Benson Primary and Nursery School (URN 101711)
Address: West Way, Shirley, Croydon, CR0 8RQ
Local authority: Croydon

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources