Most sought-after schools in Croydon

Ordered by how many families put the school first, for each place it gave out.

This list is sorted by one number: first preferences per place. For each school it is the number of families who named it first, divided by the number of offers it made, in the newest year we hold. A higher number means more families wanted a place than there were places.

This is not a list of the best schools. It does not measure how good a school is, how happy the children are, or how well they do. It also does not tell you whether a child would get a place: that depends on where you live, the year, and the council's rules. It only shows how many people applied.

#	School	First preferences per place	Newest intake	Latest Ofsted
1	Beaumont Primary School Purley, primary	2.13	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
2	Coombe Wood School South Croydon, secondary	1.84	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
3	Rockmount Primary School London, primary	1.81	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
4	Riddlesdown Collegiate Purley, secondary	1.61	2026	Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
5	Park Hill Infant School Croydon, primary	1.43	2026	Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
6	Chipstead Valley Primary School Coulsdon, primary	1.36	2026	Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
7	St Aidan's Catholic Primary School Coulsdon, primary	1.33	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
8	Chestnut Park Primary School Croydon, primary	1.30	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
9	Greenvale Primary School South Croydon, primary	1.21	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
10	Cypress Primary School London, primary	1.20	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
11	David Livingstone Academy Thornton Heath, primary	1.20	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
12	Harris Primary Academy Benson Croydon, primary	1.20	2026	Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
13	St John's CofE Primary School Croydon, primary	1.20	2026	Strong standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
14	Heathfield Academy Croydon, primary	1.18	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
15	St James the Great RC Primary and Nursery School Thornton Heath, primary	1.17	2026	Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
16	St Thomas Becket Catholic Primary School London, primary	1.15	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
17	The Hayes Primary School Kenley, primary	1.15	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
18	Krishna Avanti Primary School Croydon, primary	1.13	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
19	St Peter's Primary School South Croydon, primary	1.12	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
20	Oasis Academy Ryelands London, primary	1.09	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
21	Oasis Academy Coulsdon Croydon, secondary	1.08	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
22	Margaret Roper Catholic Primary School Purley, primary	1.03	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
23	Harris Primary Academy Croydon Croydon, primary	1.02	2026	Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
24	Keston Primary School Coulsdon, primary	1.02	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
25	Downsview Primary and Nursery School London, primary	1.01	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
26	Castle Hill Academy Croydon, primary	1.00	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
27	Forest Academy Croydon, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
28	Heavers Farm Primary School London, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
29	Rowdown Primary School Croydon, primary	1.00	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
30	Tudor Academy Croydon, primary	1.00	2026	Improved significantly (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
31	Applegarth Academy Croydon, primary	0.98	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
32	St Mary's Catholic Infant School Croydon, primary	0.97	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
33	The Minster Nursery and Infants Church of England Academy Croydon, primary	0.97	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
34	Gonville Academy Thornton Heath, primary	0.96	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
35	Harris Invictus Academy Croydon Croydon, secondary	0.96	2026	School remains Outstanding (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
36	Orchard Park High School Croydon, secondary	0.96	2026	School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
37	Coulsdon CofE Primary School Old Coulsdon, primary	0.95	2026	Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
38	Ecclesbourne Primary School Thornton Heath, primary	0.95	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
39	Quest Primary School South Croydon, primary	0.95	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
40	Regina Coeli Catholic Primary School South Croydon, primary	0.95	2026	School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
41	West Thornton Primary School Croydon, primary	0.95	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
42	Forestdale Primary School Croydon, primary	0.94	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
43	John Wood School & Nursery Croydon, primary	0.94	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
44	Gresham Primary School South Croydon, primary	0.93	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
45	St Joseph's RC Infant School London, primary	0.93	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
46	St Mark's Church of England Primary Academy London, primary	0.93	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
47	Courtwood Primary School Croydon, primary	0.92	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
48	Aerodrome Primary Academy Croydon, primary	0.91	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
49	Kenley Primary School Whyteleafe, primary	0.91	2026	Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
50	Paxton Academy Sports And Science Thornton Heath, primary	0.91	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
51	St Chad's Catholic Primary School London, primary	0.91	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
52	Atwood Primary School South Croydon, primary	0.90	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
53	Christ Church CofE Primary School (Purley) Purley, primary	0.90	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
54	Ridgeway Primary School South Croydon, primary	0.90	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
55	Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School Thornton Heath, primary	0.90	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
56	Elmwood Infant School Croydon, primary	0.89	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
57	Monks Orchard Primary School Croydon, primary	0.89	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
58	Whitehorse Manor Infant School Thornton Heath, primary	0.89	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
59	Beulah Infants' School London, primary	0.88	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
60	Harris Primary Academy Haling Park Croydon, primary	0.88	2026	School remains Outstanding (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
61	Harris Primary Academy Kenley Kenley, primary	0.88	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
62	Purley Oaks Primary School South Croydon, primary	0.88	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
63	Selsdon Primary and Nursery School South Croydon, primary	0.88	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
64	Norbury Manor Primary School London, primary	0.87	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
65	Orchard Way Primary School Croydon, primary	0.87	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
66	Smitham Primary School Coulsdon, primary	0.87	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
67	Fairchildes Primary School Croydon, primary	0.86	2026	Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
68	Oasis Academy Byron Coulsdon, primary	0.85	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
69	Harris City Academy Crystal Palace London, secondary	0.84	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
70	Kensington Avenue Primary School Thornton Heath, primary	0.84	2026	Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
71	All Saints CofE Primary School London, primary	0.83	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
72	Harris Primary Academy Purley Way Croydon, primary	0.83	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
73	Howard Primary School Croydon, primary	0.82	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
74	Robert Fitzroy Academy Croydon, primary	0.82	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
75	Woodcote Primary School Coulsdon, primary	0.82	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
76	Ark Oval Primary Academy Croydon, primary	0.81	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
77	Broadmead Primary School Croydon, primary	0.81	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
78	The Crescent Primary School Croydon, primary	0.81	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
79	Woodside Primary School Croydon, primary	0.80	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
80	Norbury High School for Girls Thornton Heath, secondary	0.79	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
81	Coloma Convent Girls' School Croydon, secondary	0.78	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
82	South Norwood Primary London, primary	0.77	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
83	Meridian High School Croydon, secondary	0.75	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
84	Ark Blake Academy Croydon, secondary	0.73	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
85	Oasis Academy Shirley Park Croydon, secondary	0.71	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
86	The Archbishop Lanfranc Academy Croydon, secondary	0.70	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
87	Archbishop Tenison's CofE High School Croydon, secondary	0.67	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
88	Woodcote High School Coulsdon, secondary	0.66	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
89	Harris Academy Beulah Hill London, secondary	0.65	2026	none held
90	The Quest Academy South Croydon, secondary	0.63	2026	Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
91	Harris Academy Purley South Croydon, secondary	0.61	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
92	Shirley High School Performing Arts College Croydon, secondary	0.59	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
93	St Joseph's College London, secondary	0.58	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
94	Harris Academy South Norwood London, secondary	0.57	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
95	Oasis Academy Arena London, secondary	0.55	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
96	New Valley Primary School	0.53	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
97	Thomas More Catholic School Purley, secondary	0.47	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
98	St Mary's Catholic High School Croydon, secondary	0.42	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))

Figures from the Department for Education, applications and offers. 98 schools in Croydon have a published per-place figure. Schools with too few places for the figure to mean anything are left off. All schools in Croydon · How we compare schools.