Al-Khair School Preparatory School, Croydon
Al-Khair School Preparatory School is an independent school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Croydon. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2024.
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Al-Khair School Preparatory School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to Al-Khair School Preparatory School are Al-Khair School (0.8 miles, Good, selective); Al-Khair Secondary Girls (0.8 miles, Good); Croydon Metropolitan College (0.8 miles, Good); and Elmhurst School Ltd (1.2 miles).
Al-Khair SchoolAl-Khair Secondary GirlsCroydon Metropolitan CollegeElmhurst School Ltd
What parents say
59 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Al-Khair School Preparatory School (as of September 2025): 95% would recommend the school, 97% say their child is happy there and 86% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (97%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (86%).
Who goes there
In 2026, 0 pupils (0%) received SEN support and 4 (1.7%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Reeves Corner Tram Stop, about 200 metres away (roughly a 2-minute walk).
15 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Factory Lane (->s), 200 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Al-Khair School Preparatory School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 1299 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Croydon (488), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Safeguarding: effective
Independent school standards
Met all the independent school standards.
- Part 1: quality of educationMet
- Part 2: pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural developmentMet
- Part 3: welfare, health and safetyMet
- Part 4: suitability of staff and proprietorsMet
- Part 5: premises and accommodationMet
- Part 6: information for parentsMet
- Part 7: handling of complaintsMet
- Part 8: leadership and managementMet
Source: Ofsted, non-association independent schools inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils take pride in their learning and want to do well. They know that every member of staff cares for them and wants them to excel. As a result, pupils work hard, rise to these high expectations and achieve well.
Pupils enjoy school, feel safe and get on well with each other. They describe Al-Khair as a place where everyone is welcome and valued. Pupils' good behaviour contributes to the school's positive atmosphere. Pupils show kindness and respect to others. They particularly enjoy assemblies. These are special occasions, where pupils come together to reflect on their own lives as well as the world around them.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The proprietor has ensured that the school complies with the independent school standards and the statutory requirements of the early years foundation stage. The school complies with schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010. The proprietor, together with governors, works effectively with leaders to ensure that pupils receive a good education and achieve well. Parents and carers are overwhelmingly pleased with the school's work. Staff are determined to do their very best for all pupils. They enjoy working at Al-Khair and feel that leaders take seriously their workload and well-being.
The curriculum is ambitious. The school has put in place schemes of work which are well sequenced and intend for pupils to build up their knowledge over time. In most subjects, including English and mathematics, everyone is clear about what pupils need to learn and when. This clarity helps pupils to develop their knowledge and build on what they have been taught previously. However, in a few subjects, the most important knowledge that pupils need to learn in each topic or unit of work is, at times, not clearly identified. This sometimes makes it harder for staff to know what knowledge to prioritise and reinforce. Sometimes, this affects how well pupils learn in these subjects.
From Ofsted's October 2024 inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its October 2024 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
59 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Al-Khair School Preparatory School
Getting There
Train Stations
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 180
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 33
- Children hurt
- 14
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 180 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 33 serious and 146 slight.
14 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 12 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
26 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Croydon is 54.5 (the median across 156 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
75%
Available places
241 pupils
320 places
79 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Croydon
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Croydon
Across Croydon council
Places available
4,025
Applications
4,184
Got 1st preference
71.2%
Got preferred school
95.3%
All secondary applications across Croydon council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
4
EHC Plans
1.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
241
Total Pupils
128
Boys
113
Girls
2026 academic year
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Al-Khair School Preparatory School
Questions parents ask about Al-Khair School Preparatory School
What is Al-Khair School Preparatory School's Ofsted rating?
Al-Khair School Preparatory School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in October 2024.
Does Al-Khair School Preparatory School meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in October 2024, Al-Khair School Preparatory School met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Al-Khair School Preparatory School?
Al-Khair School Preparatory School has around 241 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Al-Khair School Preparatory School?
Al-Khair School Preparatory School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Al-Khair School Preparatory School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 180 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 33 serious and 146 slight. 14 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 12 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 26 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Croydon is 54.5 (the median across 156 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Al-Khair School Preparatory School?
Al-Khair School Preparatory School is at 36 Pitlake, Croydon, Croydon, CR0 3RA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)