SchoolScoresSt Nicholas School
Special school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed
Reedham Drive, 19 Norman Avenue, Purley, CR8 4DS
020 8660 4861 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Requires improvement at the inspection that started on 8 May 2024.
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 | Requires improvement |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Requires improvement |
| Personal development | Requires improvement |
| Leadership and management | Requires improvement |
| Early years | Requires improvement |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
39 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025.
| Statement | This school | England |
|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school | 79% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school | 69% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved | 64% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 20 parents whose child had been bullied | 50% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 35 parents who had raised a concern | 66% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent | 82%said yes | 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. 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
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
41 pupils in this year group.
0% — 68 points below the Croydon average, and 62 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Croydon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 68% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 10% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 0% | 79% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 0% | 77% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 0% | 78% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | Not published | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | Not published | 106 | 105 |
"Not published": No figure published.
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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
This is a special school for children with an education, health and care plan (EHCP). Places are arranged through the council's SEND team, not the normal admissions round. It caters for: Speech, language and communication needs; Autism; Moderate learning difficulties; Severe learning difficulties.
| Pupils | This school | Croydon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years | 44.2% | 58.5%* | 51.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan | 98.9% | 98.4%* | 99.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support | 1.1% | 1.6%* | 0.5% |
| English as an additional language | 32.1% | 28.8%* | 14.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) | 9.5% | 11.3%* | 12.8% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) | 33.6% | 35.8%* | 35.3% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 0.0 | 9.1 | 12.3 |
| Pupils suspended at least once | 0.0% | 4.7% | 5.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.15% | 0.08% |
| Pupils per teacher | 7.8 | 6.1 | 6.6 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) | 2.6 | 2.1 | 2.3 |
| Teachers who left during the year | 3.3% | 14.9%* | 14.3%* |
Comparisons are with special schools. * 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 special schools
- Abingdon House School Purley 0.5 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- St Giles School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023
- Serenity School 2.3 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 strong, 2 expected
- Olympus 2.4 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024)
- Carew Academy 2.5 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2020, before conversion)
- The Link School 2.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 0% grade 5+ English and maths
- Rutherford School 2.8 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2025)
- Sunnydown School 2.8 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 14% grade 5+ English and maths
- Sherwood Foundation School 2.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2024
- The Write Time 2.9 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2023)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Nicholas School's Ofsted rating?
St Nicholas School was rated Requires improvement by Ofsted at its inspection in 8 May 2024.
How did St Nicholas School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 0% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 62 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend St Nicholas School?
82% of the 39 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend St Nicholas School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 101854.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 2 April 2024 to 7 April 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.