SchoolScoresOrchard Park High School
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of GREENSHAW LEARNING TRUST
Orchard Way, Shirley, Croydon, CR0 7NJ
020 8776 0220 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 18 September 2018.
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 | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth form | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 24 January 2024: Ofsted found the school was still Good and may be improving, so its next inspection will be a full graded one.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
38 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025.
Croydon comparisons use the 10 of its 24 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 14 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Croydon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 2nd highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Croydon. Higher than 63% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 87% | 79% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school 1st highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Croydon. Higher than 75% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 79% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 1st highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Croydon. Higher than 78% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 89% | 72% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 32 parents who had raised a concern 2nd highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Croydon. Higher than 62% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 75% | 66% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 1st highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Croydon. Higher than 77% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 89%said yes | 73% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Croydon figures pool parents at the Croydon schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
103 pupils in this year group.
45% — 2 points above the Croydon average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Croydon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 45% | 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. | 44.8 | 44.5 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.8 | 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.
114 pupils in this year group.
96% — 3 points above the Croydon average, and 4 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. | 96% | 93% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 45% | 48% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 3% | 8% | 13% |
| Further education college | 46% | 34% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 2% | 1% | 3% |
| Work | 1% | 1% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 88% | 96% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 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 | 145 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 139 |
| Of those, offered a place | 110 (79%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 601 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.6 · 2025: 0.9 · 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
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 25 places for speech, language and communication needs. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Croydon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 11th highest of 24 state secondary schools in Croydon. Higher than 83% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 45.0% | 39.9%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 4th highest of 24 state secondary schools in Croydon. Higher than 74% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.1% | 2.9%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 13th highest of 24 state secondary schools in Croydon. Higher than 54% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 14.2% | 14.7%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 20th highest of 24 state secondary schools in Croydon. Higher than 61% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 16.7% | 28.5%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 9th lowest of 24 state secondary schools in Croydon. Lower than 63% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 7.6% | 8.4%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 10th lowest of 24 state secondary schools in Croydon. Lower than 59% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 21.6% | 24.5%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 24th lowest of 24 state secondary schools in Croydon. Lower than 5% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 72.7 | 12.9 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 24th lowest of 24 state secondary schools in Croydon. Lower than 2% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 21.9% | 7.2% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.14% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 7th highest of 24 state secondary schools in Croydon. Higher than 65% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 17.5 | 16.8 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 5th highest of 24 state secondary schools in Croydon. Higher than 89% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 14.0 | 12.4 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 8th highest of 24 state secondary schools in Croydon. Higher than 91% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 25.4% | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby secondary schools
- Orion Eden Park 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 3 strong, 4 expected · 48% grade 5+ English and maths
- Langley Park School for Boys 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), improved significantly 2024 · 60% grade 5+ English and maths
- Langley Park School for Girls 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 69% grade 5+ English and maths
- Oasis Academy Shirley Park 1.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 32% grade 5+ English and maths
- Shirley High School Performing Arts College 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 23% grade 5+ English and maths
- Trinity School 1.1 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 76% A*/A at A level
- Coloma Convent Girls' School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 6 expected · 62% grade 5+ English and maths
- Oasis Academy Arena 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 4 expected, 1 needs attention · 29% grade 5+ English and maths
- Harris Academy Beckenham 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2017), confirmed 2023 · 59% grade 5+ English and maths
- Ark Blake Academy 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 51% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Orchard Park High School's Ofsted rating?
Orchard Park High School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 18 September 2018. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 24 January 2024, Ofsted found the school was still Good and may be improving, so its next inspection will be a full graded one.
How did Orchard Park High School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 45% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, about the same as the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Orchard Park High School?
89% of the 38 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025 said they would recommend Orchard Park High School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Orchard Park High School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 139 families put Orchard Park High School as their first choice for 145 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 110 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 142040.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 1 January 2024 to 6 January 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.