Free schools · Croydon

Paxton Academy Sports And Science

2–11Ages
281Pupils
PrimaryPhase
140967URN

843 London Road, Thornton Heath, CR7 6AW · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Dec 2022 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.7per place

0.3 below Croydon median (3.0)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Croydon

156 applications for 58 places · 52nd of 74 in Croydon

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

87%met the expected standard

Croydon 71% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 6 December 2022Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management	Outstanding
Early years provision		Good

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

2.7applications per place, Reception

0.3 below Croydon median (3.0) 0.5 above England median (2.2)

156 applications · 58 places offered · 53 named it first

2026 2.7; Croydon median median 3.0
2025 3.1; Croydon median median 3.1
2024 2.6; Croydon median median 3.1
2023 3.1; Croydon median median 3.0
2022 2.8; Croydon median median 3.1
2021 3.2; Croydon median median 2.9
2020 3.0; Croydon median median 3.1
2019 3.6; Croydon median median 3.1
2018 4.0; Croydon median median 3.4
2017 2.8; Croydon median median 3.4
2016 2.0; Croydon median median 3.3
2015 3.6; Croydon median median 3.4
2014 2.1; 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	58	156	2.7	53	0.91
Sep 2025	49	152	3.1	45	0.92
Sep 2024	44	113	2.6	32	0.73
Sep 2023	29	89	3.1	25	0.86
Sep 2022	31	86	2.8	27	0.87
Sep 2021	27	85	3.2	21	0.78
Sep 2020	25	74	3.0	23	0.92
Sep 2019	13	47	3.6	10	0.77
Sep 2018	21	83	4.0	18	0.86
Sep 2017	46	127	2.8	37	0.80
Sep 2016	70	138	2.0	58	0.83
Sep 2015	27	98	3.6	20	0.74
Sep 2014	28	59	2.1	16	0.57

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 90% · Writing 87% · Maths 90% → all three 87% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard87%7th of 77 in Croydon

Croydon 71% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard90%

Croydon 81% England 78%

Higher standard55%

Croydon 34% England 33%

Average scaled score 109 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard87%

Croydon 79% England 75%

Greater depth32%

Croydon 12% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard90%

Croydon 82% England 77%

Higher standard26%

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	87%	13%	109	105
2023/24	58%	15%	105	103
2022/23	78%	7%	104	104

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

Paxton Academy Sports And ScienceThis school
This school

Good2022

2.7applications per place 87%met the SATs standard
Winterbourne Junior Girls' School
0.5 km · Croydon

Good2024

89%met the SATs standard
Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School
0.5 km · Croydon

Good2023

2.2applications per place
Winterbourne Boys' Academy
0.5 km · Croydon

Remains Good2022

80%met the SATs standard
Gonville Academy
0.5 km · Croydon

Remains Good2023

2.5applications per place 80%met the SATs standard
Ecclesbourne Primary School
0.9 km · Croydon

Good2023

2.6applications per place 75%met the SATs standard
West Thornton Primary School
0.9 km · Croydon

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.0applications per place 74%met the SATs standard
Elmwood Junior School
1.1 km · Croydon

Remains Good2023

66%met the SATs standard
Elmwood Infant School
1.1 km · Croydon

Remains Good2024

2.5applications per place

School details

Type: Free schools
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 140967 · 306/2087
Trust: Wandle Learning Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 630 pupils · 281 on roll
Free school meals: 42.5% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 September 2014
Address: 843 London Road, Thornton Heath, CR7 6AW
Local authority: Croydon

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