SchoolScoresHarris Invictus Academy Croydon
Free school · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form
Part of HARRIS FEDERATION
88 London Road, Croydon, CR0 2TB
020 3371 3002 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 29 September 2016.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
| Outcomes for pupils | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 19 January 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Outstanding.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
155 pupils in this year group.
47% — 4 points above the Croydon average, and 1 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Croydon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 47% | 42% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 45 | 44.5 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.3 | 4.0 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
170 pupils in this year group.
94% — about the same as the Croydon average, and 2 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Croydon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 94% | 93% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 67% | 48% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 1% | 8% | 13% |
| Further education college | 26% | 34% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 0% | 1% | 3% |
| Work | 1% | 1% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 94% | 94% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25
62 A level students in this year group.
| Measure | This school | Croydon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average A level grade | C- | C | B- |
| A level exams graded A* or A | 8% | 16% | 26% |
| A level exams graded A* to B | 28% | 43% | 53% |
| Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. | 27.0 | 30.9 | 35 |
A level subjects, 2024/25
16 subjects, 145 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.
| Subject | Exams | A* | A* or A | England A* or A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 21 | 0% | 10% | 19% |
| Biology | 18 | 0% | 6% | 27% |
| Economics | 18 | 0% | 0% | 26% |
| Sociology | 17 | 0% | 6% | 20% |
| Chemistry | 14 | 0% | 14% | 30% |
| Mathematics | 12 | 8% | 17% | 40% |
| Business Studies:Single | 9 | 0% | 0% | 16% |
| Government and Politics | 9 | 0% | 22% | 26% |
| English Literature | 6 | 0% | 0% | 23% |
Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Art and Design, Computer Studies / Computing, French, Geography, History, Physics, Polish.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After sixth form
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
40 students in this year group.
88% — 12 points above the Croydon average, and 9 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Croydon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. | 88% | 76% | 79% |
| Apprenticeship | 5% | 3% | 7% |
| Work | 23% | 21% | 28% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 77% | 88% |
Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Going on to university
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
12 students in this year group.
58% — 10 points below the Croydon average, and 2 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Croydon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Went on to a degree or other higher education | 58% | 68% | 60% |
| Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. | 0% | 15% | 19% |
Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 78% | 58% |
Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Croydon. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 178 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 171 |
| Of those, offered a place | 152 (89%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 505 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.6 · 2026: 1.0
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Croydon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 6th highest of 24 state secondary schools in Croydon. Higher than 90% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 51.1% | 39.9%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan Joint 12th highest of 24 state secondary schools in Croydon. Higher than 40% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.5% | 2.9%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 11th highest of 24 state secondary schools in Croydon. Higher than 61% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 15.3% | 14.7%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 4th highest of 24 state secondary schools in Croydon. Higher than 90% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 46.4% | 28.5%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 5th lowest of 24 state secondary schools in Croydon. Lower than 76% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 6.8% | 8.4%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 9th lowest of 24 state secondary schools in Croydon. Lower than 66% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 20.2% | 24.5%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 4th lowest of 24 state secondary schools in Croydon. Lower than 78% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 6.3 | 12.9 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 5th lowest of 24 state secondary schools in Croydon. Lower than 66% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 4.8% | 7.2% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded3 pupils | 0.31% | 0.14% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 11th highest of 24 state secondary schools in Croydon. Higher than 50% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 16.8 | 16.8 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 11th highest of 24 state secondary schools in Croydon. Higher than 76% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 13.0 | 12.4 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 4th highest of 24 state secondary schools in Croydon. Higher than 97% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 31.6% | 21.7%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby secondary schools
- St Mary's Catholic High School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 4 expected, 2 needs attention · 23% grade 5+ English and maths
- Al-Khair School 0.6 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- Al-Khair Secondary Girls 0.6 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- Ark Blake Academy 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 51% grade 5+ English and maths
- BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology 0.9 miles · Independent · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 32% A*/A at A level
- Aya College (Educational Provision) 1.0 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2022)
- Croydon Metropolitan College 1.0 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 3% A*/A at A level
- Archbishop Tenison's CofE High School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 expected, 1 needs attention · 39% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Archbishop Lanfranc Academy 1.4 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 32% grade 5+ English and maths
- Whitgift School 1.4 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 59% A*/A at A level
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Harris Invictus Academy Croydon's Ofsted rating?
Harris Invictus Academy Croydon was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 29 September 2016. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 19 January 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Outstanding.
How did Harris Invictus Academy Croydon do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 47% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 1 points above the England average of 45%.
Is Harris Invictus Academy Croydon oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 171 families put Harris Invictus Academy Croydon as their first choice for 178 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 152 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 140952.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25, A levels 2024/25, After sixth form 2024/25, Going on to university 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.