SchoolScoresPaxton Academy Sports And Science
Free school · Primary, ages 2 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of WANDLE LEARNING TRUST
843 London Road, Thornton Heath, CR7 6AW
020 8683 2308 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 6 December 2022.
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 |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
31 pupils in this year group.
87% — 19 points above the Croydon average, and 25 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Croydon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 87% | 68% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 13% | 10% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 90% | 79% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 87% | 77% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 90% | 78% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 109 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 106 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. 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 primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 58 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 53 |
| Of those, offered a place | 53 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 156 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.7 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 0.9
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 1st highest of 13 state primary schools in Thornton Heath. Higher than 94% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 55.5% | 28.6%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 9th highest of 13 state primary schools in Thornton Heath. Higher than 40% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.5% | 3.4%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 8th highest of 13 state primary schools in Thornton Heath. Higher than 44% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 13.4% | 14.0%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 10th highest of 13 state primary schools in Thornton Heath. Higher than 89% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 48.4% | 37.8%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 13th lowest of 13 state primary schools in Thornton Heath. Lower than 13% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.8% | 5.4%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 13th lowest of 13 state primary schools in Thornton Heath. Lower than 4% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 26.1% | 14.1%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 13th lowest of 13 state primary schools in Thornton Heath. Lower than 5% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 11.3 | 1.3 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 12th lowest of 13 state primary schools in Thornton Heath. Lower than 5% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 4.4% | 0.7% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 11th highest of 13 state primary schools in Thornton Heath. Higher than 31% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 19.0 | 21.3 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 8th highest of 13 state primary schools in Thornton Heath. Higher than 62% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.4 | 11.7 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 8th highest of 13 state primary schools in Thornton Heath. Higher than 71% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 19.2% | 17.4%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary 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 primary schools
- Winterbourne Junior Girls' School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 89% met expected standard (KS2)
- Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Winterbourne Boys' Academy 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022 · 80% met expected standard (KS2)
- Gonville Academy 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2023 · 80% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ecclesbourne Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 75% met expected standard (KS2)
- West Thornton Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 74% met expected standard (KS2)
- Elmwood Junior School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
- Elmwood Infant School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2024
- Chestnut Park Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2018), confirmed 2024 · 44% met expected standard (KS2)
- St James the Great RC Primary and Nursery School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Paxton Academy Sports And Science's Ofsted rating?
Paxton Academy Sports And Science was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 6 December 2022.
How did Paxton Academy Sports And Science do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 87% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 25 points above the England average of 62%.
Is Paxton Academy Sports And Science oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 53 families put Paxton Academy Sports And Science as their first choice for 58 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 53 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 140967.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.