Forest Academy - The School Companion

Forest Academy

Croydon · CR0 8HQ

General information Primary School · 3-11 years Who goes here 180 pupils, 60% FSM

Parent score Rate this school No reviews yet - be the first SEN 17.2% on SEN support Behaviour 5.4% absence rate Staff 24.2% turnover Financials £8,654 per pupil Environment Buildings and facilities

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Forest Academy

General Information

Address: Bridle Road, Shirley, Croydon, CR0 8HQ – View on map
Phone: 02087772808
Website: Visit school website
Headteacher: Rupinder Bansil
Age range: 3-11 years
Demand for places (Reception, September 2026): 12 families put it first for 12 places – 10 for every 10 places. Every one of them was offered a place. No places went to families living outside the council area. Children putting it first, for every 10 places: 2023 9 · 2024 9 · 2025 7 · 2026 10
Sixth form: No
Intake: Mixed
Religious character: Does not apply
Nursery provision: Yes

Who goes here

180 pupils out of 656 places Plenty of room

Pupils eligible for free school meals: 108
% eligible for free school meals: 60.0%
Pupil mix: 9 in 10 (similar to the Croydon average)
English as an additional language: 37% (England 22%)

Staff

Teachers leaving each year

Teacher turnover: 24.2% a year (Croydon 18.6%, typical in England 13.9%)
Where they went: about 72% moved to another school, 28% left state schools altogether (retirement, other careers, independent schools, abroad)
Data years: 2022/23 to 2024/25 (average of 3 years, DfE school workforce census)

Teachers who moved school or left state schools in the year after each November, as a share of all the school's teachers. Some turnover is healthy – retirements, promotions, moving house. This is a small staff, so one or two teachers leaving moves the figure a lot.

Behaviour

Awaiting Data

About this Behaviour status

We've asked this school for real behaviour figures under Freedom of Information and haven't had a response yet.

Across Croydon: suspensions by reason

Suspensions for sexual misconduct: 6 (0.2 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.2)
Permanent exclusions for sexual misconduct: 0
Suspensions for bullying: 1 (0.0 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.2)
Suspensions for abuse against sexual orientation or gender identity: 0 (0.0 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.0)
Data year: 2024/25 (DfE suspensions and exclusions statistics)

These are figures for all state primary schools in Croydon, not this school's own – the government doesn't publish them school by school. A suspension can have up to three reasons. Most sexual harassment between pupils never leads to a suspension, so these figures show only part of the picture.

Attendance

Overall absence: 5.4%
Persistently absent pupils: 12.0%
Data year: 2024/25

About persistent absence

A pupil is counted as "persistently absent" if they miss 10% or more of their possible school sessions - roughly one day in every two weeks. Schools and Ofsted both pay close attention to this figure specifically, since it can highlight a pattern the overall absence rate alone might hide.

SEN

No dedicated Unit or Resourced Provision

SEN Unit and Resourced Provision

Most mainstream schools don't have a dedicated SEN Unit or Resourced Provision - it isn't a mark against a school that doesn't, just a different kind of setup than one that does.

Pupils on SEN Support: 17.2%
Pupils with an EHC Plan: 3.3%
Data year: 2025/26

Most common needs - SEN Support

Social, emotional and mental health: 15 pupils
Speech, language and communications needs: 12 pupils
Autistic spectrum disorder: 4 pupils

Most common needs - EHC Plan

Autistic spectrum disorder: 4 pupils
Speech, language and communications needs: 2 pupils

These figures show the makeup of the school.

About these SEND figures

These figures give a sense of the makeup of the school - they aren't a judgement on the quality of support provided.

Parent score - no reviews yet –

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Behaviour

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Openness

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Teaching Quality

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School Ethos

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Ability to Deal with Problems

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Headteacher Approval

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SafeguardingSafeguarding (parent rating)How parents rate the school on keeping children safe - how safe their child feels, and how well concerns are listened to and acted on. It's parents' experience, not an inspection result; Ofsted checks safeguarding separately.

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Wraparound CareWraparound Care (parent rating)How parents rate the school's breakfast and after-school clubs - availability, cost and quality. Only asked for infant, junior and primary schools, where it matters most for working parents.

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Would recommend –

Educational Attainment

Good 2022 report

About this Ofsted rating

Ofsted changed how it rates schools in the last couple of years, so ratings from different years aren't always on the same scale - that's why we show the year alongside every rating.

Year 6 SATs results

Met the expected standard in reading, writing & maths: 73% (England 62%)
Reached the higher standard: 7% (England 8%)
Compared with the area: 5 percentage points above the Croydon average (68%)
Compared with schools with similar pupils: Well above (3-year average 76% against an expected 57%)
3-year average (expected standard): 76%
Expected standard by subject: Reading 77% · Writing 80% · Maths 77% · Grammar, punctuation & spelling 67%
Average test scores: reading 105, maths 103
Based on: 30 Year 6 pupils, 2024/25

View the School Context Comparator – how this school's SATs results compare with schools teaching similar pupils.

SATs results over time

This schoolCroydon averageEngland→ Broadly steady No clear rise or fall since 2022/23 (changes this small are normal from one year group to the next). In 2024/25 this school was 5 percentage points above the Croydon average (68%).

Year 6 SATs: joint 33rd of 77 junior and primary schools in the area

=31Harris Primary Academy Benson74%
=31West Thornton Primary School74%
=33Forest Academy73%
=33Monks Orchard Primary School73%
=33Oasis Academy Ryelands73%

Click to see the full ranking

Year 6 SATs ranking

Junior and primary schools in this area, ranked by the % of Year 6 pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (official DfE results, 2024/25). Schools with the same result share a place (shown as =). In small schools one or two children can move a school several places, so treat close positions as roughly equal.

Rank School Score

=1Beaumont Primary School90%
=1Heathfield Academy90%
=3Oasis Academy Byron89%
=3Winterbourne Junior Girls' School89%
=5Applegarth Academy88%
=5David Livingstone Academy88%
#7Paxton Academy Sports And Science87%
#8Gresham Primary School86%
#9Coulsdon CofE Primary School85%
#10Krishna Avanti Primary School84%
=11Kenley Primary School82%
=11Park Hill Junior School82%
=11Rockmount Primary School82%
=14Downsview Primary and Nursery School81%
=14St John's CofE Primary School81%
=16Gonville Academy80%
=16Winterbourne Boys' Academy80%
=18Harris Primary Academy Croydon79%
=18Harris Primary Academy Haling Park79%
=18Harris Primary Academy Purley Way79%
=21St Chad's Catholic Primary School78%
=21St Thomas Becket Catholic Primary School78%
=23St Aidan's Catholic Primary School77%
=23St Peter's Primary School77%
=23St. Mary's Catholic Junior School77%
=23Woodside Primary School77%
#27Atwood Primary School76%
=28Ecclesbourne Primary School75%
=28Greenvale Primary School75%
=28The Hayes Primary School75%
=31Harris Primary Academy Benson74%
=31West Thornton Primary School74%
=33Forest Academy73%
=33Monks Orchard Primary School73%
=33Oasis Academy Ryelands73%
=33Tudor Academy73%
#37Harris Primary Academy Kenley72%
=38Howard Primary School71%
=38St James the Great RC Primary and Nursery School71%
=40Fairchildes Primary School70%
=40Margaret Roper Catholic Primary School70%
=40Ridgeway Primary School70%
=40The Minster Junior School70%
=40Woodcote Primary School70%
=45Forestdale Primary School69%
=45Whitehorse Manor Junior School69%
=47Chipstead Valley Primary School67%
=47Courtwood Primary School67%
=47Orchard Way Primary School67%
=47St Joseph's RC Junior School67%
=51Aerodrome Primary Academy66%
=51Ark Oval Primary Academy66%
=51Elmwood Junior School66%
=54Kensington Avenue Primary School64%
=54Robert Fitzroy Academy64%
=56Broadmead Primary School63%
=56South Norwood Primary63%
=58Christ Church CofE Primary School (Purley)62%
=58Keston Primary School62%
=58Smitham Primary School62%
#61Selsdon Primary and Nursery School61%
#62Purley Oaks Primary School60%
#63Beulah Junior School59%
#64Castle Hill Academy58%
#65Cypress Primary School57%
=66John Wood School & Nursery56%
=66New Valley Primary School56%
=66St Mark's Church of England Primary Academy56%
=69Norbury Manor Primary School55%
=69The Crescent Primary School55%
#71Rowdown Primary School53%
#72Good Shepherd Catholic Primary and Nursery School52%
#73St Cyprian's Greek Orthodox Primary Academy51%
#74Heavers Farm Primary School48%
=75Chestnut Park Primary School44%
=75Quest Primary School44%
#77All Saints CofE Primary School43%

View full Ofsted inspection report

22nd of 59 primary schools in Croydon for Ofsted rating

#20Downsview Primary and Nursery SchoolGood
#21Ecclesbourne Primary SchoolGood
#22Forest AcademyGood
#23Forestdale Primary SchoolGood
#24Gonville AcademyGood

Click to see the full ranking

Ofsted Rating ranking

Based on real Ofsted ratings (via official DfE data) for schools on the same four-word grading scale.

Rank School Score

#1Beaumont Primary SchoolOutstanding
#2Chestnut Park Primary SchoolOutstanding
#3Chipstead Valley Primary SchoolOutstanding
#4David Livingstone AcademyOutstanding
#5Fairchildes Primary SchoolOutstanding
#6Harris Primary Academy BensonOutstanding
#7Harris Primary Academy CroydonOutstanding
#8Harris Primary Academy Haling ParkOutstanding
#9Harris Primary Academy Purley WayOutstanding
#10Heathfield AcademyOutstanding
#11St James the Great RC Primary and Nursery SchoolOutstanding
#12Applegarth AcademyGood
#13Ark Oval Primary AcademyGood
#14Atwood Primary SchoolGood
#15Broadmead Primary SchoolGood
#16Castle Hill AcademyGood
#17Christ Church CofE Primary School (Purley)Good
#18Courtwood Primary SchoolGood
#19Cypress Primary SchoolGood
#20Downsview Primary and Nursery SchoolGood
#21Ecclesbourne Primary SchoolGood
#22Forest AcademyGood
#23Forestdale Primary SchoolGood
#24Gonville AcademyGood
#25Good Shepherd Catholic Primary and Nursery SchoolGood
#26Greenvale Primary SchoolGood
#27Gresham Primary SchoolGood
#28Heavers Farm Primary SchoolGood
#29Howard Primary SchoolGood
#30John Wood School & NurseryGood
#31Keston Primary SchoolGood
#32Krishna Avanti Primary SchoolGood
#33Margaret Roper Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#34Monks Orchard Primary SchoolGood
#35New Valley Primary SchoolGood
#36Norbury Manor Primary SchoolGood
#37Oasis Academy ByronGood
#38Oasis Academy RyelandsGood
#39Paxton Academy Sports And ScienceGood
#40Purley Oaks Primary SchoolGood
#41Quest Primary SchoolGood
#42Regina Coeli Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#43Ridgeway Primary SchoolGood
#44Robert Fitzroy AcademyGood
#45Smitham Primary SchoolGood
#46South Norwood PrimaryGood
#47St Aidan's Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#48St Chad's Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#49St Mark's Church of England Primary AcademyGood
#50St Peter's Primary SchoolGood
#51St Thomas Becket Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#52The Crescent Primary SchoolGood
#53The Hayes Primary SchoolGood
#54Tudor AcademyGood
#55Woodside Primary SchoolGood
#56Coulsdon CofE Primary SchoolRequires improvement
#57Kenley Primary SchoolRequires improvement
#58Kensington Avenue Primary SchoolRequires improvement
#59St Cyprian's Greek Orthodox Primary AcademyRequires improvement

Financials

Spending per pupil: £8,654 (2024-25)

About this spending figure

A higher or lower position here isn't a sign of a better or worse school - schools have different needs and circumstances - but it can help reassure you that a school has sufficient funding behind your child's education.

8th of 68 primary schools in Croydon for spending per pupil

#6South Norwood Primary£9,181
#7Courtwood Primary School£8,928
#8Forest Academy£8,654
#9Monks Orchard Primary School£8,567
#10Rowdown Primary School£8,453

Click to see the full ranking

Spending Per Pupil ranking

Based on official DfE financial return data (Consistent Financial Reporting / Academies Accounts Return) - not a ranking of school quality.

Rank School Score

#1Castle Hill Academy£11,487
#2All Saints CofE Primary School£10,280
#3Quest Primary School£10,039
#4Heavers Farm Primary School£9,850
#5Broadmead Primary School£9,479
#6South Norwood Primary£9,181
#7Courtwood Primary School£8,928
#8Forest Academy£8,654
#9Monks Orchard Primary School£8,567
#10Rowdown Primary School£8,453
#11Aerodrome Primary Academy£8,412
#12Selsdon Primary and Nursery School£8,345
#13Good Shepherd Catholic Primary and Nursery School£8,329
#14Fairchildes Primary School£8,317
#15The Crescent Primary School£8,317
#16Harris Primary Academy Croydon£8,307
#17Coulsdon CofE Primary School£8,057
#18Norbury Manor Primary School£8,056
#19St Cyprian's Greek Orthodox Primary Academy£8,018
#20Paxton Academy Sports And Science£8,000
#21Kenley Primary School£7,928
#22Rockmount Primary School£7,923
#23Beaumont Primary School£7,800
#24Oasis Academy Byron£7,800
#25Greenvale Primary School£7,762
#26St Chad's Catholic Primary School£7,628
#27St James the Great RC Primary and Nursery School£7,556
#28Margaret Roper Catholic Primary School£7,545
#29Woodside Primary School£7,544
#30St Mark's Church of England Primary Academy£7,520
#31Chestnut Park Primary School£7,474
#32Gresham Primary School£7,381
#33Christ Church CofE Primary School (Purley)£7,376
#34New Valley Primary School£7,330
#35Forestdale Primary School£7,290
#36Harris Primary Academy Purley Way£7,265
#37Howard Primary School£7,223
#38Harris Primary Academy Benson£7,213
#39Ridgeway Primary School£7,193
#40Ark Oval Primary Academy£7,150
#41St Aidan's Catholic Primary School£7,037
#42Chipstead Valley Primary School£7,001
#43Purley Oaks Primary School£6,976
#44West Thornton Primary School£6,948
#45St John's CofE Primary School£6,939
#46Downsview Primary and Nursery School£6,900
#47St Thomas Becket Catholic Primary School£6,878
#48Ecclesbourne Primary School£6,857
#49Robert Fitzroy Academy£6,806
#50The Hayes Primary School£6,760
#51Harris Primary Academy Kenley£6,744
#52John Wood School & Nursery£6,739
#53Keston Primary School£6,650
#54Harris Primary Academy Haling Park£6,584
#55Krishna Avanti Primary School£6,530
#56St Peter's Primary School£6,528
#57Cypress Primary School£6,519
#58Atwood Primary School£6,291
#59Woodcote Primary School£6,269
#60Oasis Academy Ryelands£5,553
#61Applegarth Academy£5,249
#62David Livingstone Academy£4,643
#63Tudor Academy£4,316
#64Regina Coeli Catholic Primary School£4,102
#65Gonville Academy£4,065
#66Heathfield Academy£3,962
#67Orchard Way Primary School£2,935
#68Kensington Avenue Primary School£644

View on the Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool (GOV.UK)

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