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OpenSecondaryOfsted: GoodURN 145875

Coombe Wood School

Free schools · South Croydon · CR2 7HY

Ages 11–18 · 1,162 pupils · Croydon

School website

Ofsted

Good

Attainment 8

50.6

Overall absence

7.4%

Admissions demand

2.37 · Highly competitive

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Good

Inspection date

2023-01-17

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8+0.38
−20+2
Attainment 850.6
English & maths grade 5+57%
English & maths grade 4+75%
EBacc entry33%

EBacc APS: 4.4

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence7.4%
Persistent absence (10%+)22.0%
Unauthorised2.2%
Authorised absence
5.2%
Severe absence (50%+)
1.7%
Enrolments in measure
940

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

2.37 · Highly competitive

1st preferences

394

Places offered

168

1st-preference offers

144

Total preferences (any rank)
1,481
Preferred offers (top 3)
168
Applications from outside LA
48
Offers to outside-LA applicants
2

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill106%

1,162 pupils · 1,100 places

Pupils on roll
1,162
Boys / girls
685 / 477
School capacity
1,100
Capacity fill
1,162 / 1,100 (106%)
Free school meals
31.2%
FSM pupils
279
Gender
Mixed
School type
Free schools

Age range

Ages 11–18

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth formHas a sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Governance
Academy trust: GREENSHAW LEARNING TRUST
Academy trust
GREENSHAW LEARNING TRUST
Sponsor
Greenshaw Learning Trust
Headteacher
Ms Nicole Williams

Location

Address
30 Melville Avenue
Postcode
CR2 7HY
Town
South Croydon
Local authority
Croydon
District
Croydon
Constituency
Croydon South
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed free schools (secondary), Ages 11–18, in South Croydon, Croydon, 1,162 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form. Free school meals: 31.2%.

Open schools in South Croydon
19
Secondary schools in South Croydon
3
Academies among open schools in South Croydon
32% (6)
Open schools in CR2
22
Secondary in CR2
3
Open schools in Croydon LA
155
Secondary in Croydon LA
23

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in South CroydonNear CR2

  • Archbishop Tenison's CofE High School

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Voluntary aided school · Secondary

    Croydon · CR0 5JQ · Croydon

    Ages 11–18

    • Att845.9
    • P8-0.2
    • EM5+41%
    • Absence8.7%

    0.5 miles away

  • Coloma Convent Girls' School

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Croydon · CR9 5AS · Croydon

    Ages 11–18

    • Att856.7
    • P80.5
    • EM5+67%
    • Absence8.3%

    1.1 miles away

  • Ark Blake Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Free schools · Secondary

    Croydon · CR0 6NA · Croydon

    Ages 11–18

    • Absence8.7%
    • FSM50.4%
    • Demand0.80

    1.3 miles away

  • The Quest Academy

    Ofsted: Requires improvement

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    South Croydon · CR2 8HD · Croydon

    Ages 11–18

    • Att843.8
    • P8-0.3
    • EM5+44%
    • Absence9.9%

    1.4 miles away

  • Oasis Academy Shirley Park

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Croydon · CR9 7AL · Croydon

    Ages 11–19

    • Att842.7
    • P8-0.1
    • EM5+36%
    • Absence9.7%

    1.5 miles away

  • St Mary's Catholic High School

    Ofsted: Needs attention

    Voluntary aided school · Secondary

    Croydon · CR9 2EE · Croydon

    Ages 11–19

    • Att839.8
    • P80.3
    • EM5+30%
    • Absence6.1%

    1.5 miles away

  • Harris Academy Purley

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    South Croydon · CR2 6DT · Croydon

    Ages 11–19

    • Att847.0
    • P80.2
    • EM5+53%
    • Absence7.3%

    1.6 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Ms Nicole Williams
Telephone
02082894745
Website
www.cws-croydon.co.uk

Official links