Aspire Learning, Croydon
Aspire Learning is a special school for pupils aged 5 to 11 in Croydon. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2024.
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Aspire Learning in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Aspire Learning are Bright Minds Creative Academy (0.2 miles, Inadequate); Serenity School, Old Palace Croydon (0.7 miles); Maypole School - Melville (0.7 miles); and Rutherford School (0.7 miles, Good).
Bright Minds Creative AcademySerenity School, Old Palace CroydonMaypole School - MelvilleRutherford School
Who goes there
Almost every pupil at Aspire Learning has an education, health and care plan (54 of 54 in 2026).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is South Croydon Rail Station, about 500 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Birdhurst Gardens, 230 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 877 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: 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
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 Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its May 2024 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Personal development.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Aspire Learning
Getting There
Train Stations
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 88
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 14
- Children hurt
- 9
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 88 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 14 serious and 74 slight.
9 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 5 in a vehicle or otherwise.
21 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
96%
Near capacity
54 pupils
56 places
2 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(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
54
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Aspire Learning is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
54
Total Pupils
47
Boys
7
Girls
2026 academic year
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Questions parents ask about Aspire Learning
What is Aspire Learning's Ofsted rating?
Aspire Learning was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2024.
Does Aspire Learning meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in May 2024, Aspire Learning met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Aspire Learning?
Aspire Learning has around 54 pupils on roll.
Does Aspire Learning have specialist SEN provision?
Aspire Learning is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
How do I apply to Aspire Learning?
Aspire Learning 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 Aspire Learning?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 88 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 14 serious and 74 slight. 9 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 5 in a vehicle or otherwise. 21 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 Aspire Learning?
Aspire Learning is at Coombe Cliff, Coombe Road, Croydon, CR0 5SP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)