Chaffinch Brook School, Croydon
Chaffinch Brook School is a special school for pupils aged 5 to 16 in Croydon, part of The Beckmead Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2024.
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Chaffinch Brook School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Chaffinch Brook School are Supreme Education AP (0.6 miles, selective); Arise Academy (0.8 miles, Requires improvement); Beckmead College (1 mile, Good); and Aspire Learning (1.1 miles, Good).
Supreme Education APArise AcademyBeckmead CollegeAspire Learning
The trust
Chaffinch Brook School is one of 12 schools run by The Beckmead Trust, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 13 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 77% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 23% to a further education college.
Who goes there
82.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 16.3% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Chaffinch Brook School has an education, health and care plan (97 of 98 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Addiscombe Tram Stop, about 600 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Gordon Crescent (->e), 80 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Chaffinch Brook School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 4th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 795 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Croydon (488), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Chaffinch Brook School issued 21 suspensions, 22.6 for every 100 pupils, and 1 permanent exclusion.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils enjoy coming to the school. They like their lessons and the regular trips and visits to interesting places. Pupils soak up the knowledge that they gain from the school's curriculum and remember what they have learned. They value the special days that the school organises to celebrate different aspects of the school's life and community, for example World Book Day and events to promote the acceptance and awareness of autism.
Pupils are proud of their talents and unique qualities. Staff support pupils to deal with any challenges. They enable pupils to get better at managing social situations in everyday life. Pupils learn to develop their communication skills. The school helps pupils to notice and understand their own feelings and the feelings of others.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school has put in place an ambitious curriculum which clearly identifies what pupils should learn and when. Staff who work at the school feel very well supported by leaders, including the trust. They say that leaders at all levels consider their well-being.
Pupils acquire knowledge in a sequential way, with each step building on the one before. Teachers bring the curriculum to life with imaginative and fun teaching. This helps pupils remember what they have been taught. Working relationships between adults and pupils are a strength of the school. The secure attachments that exist help pupils to feel relaxed, positive and ready to learn. All pupils at the school have autism, and there is a strong culture of being positive about what this means for the pupils.
From Ofsted's May 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 May 2024 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
82.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 14% to 25% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 14% to 25% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 0% to 25% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from Chaffinch Brook School
Safeguarding
27 Sep 2026
Policies, Funding & Ofsted Reports
23 Sep 2026
Term Dates
3 Sep 2026
News & Updates
27 Aug 2026
Curriculum
26 May 2026
Governance
25 Mar 2026
From Chaffinch Brook School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Chaffinch Brook School
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Chaffinch Brook School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Chaffinch Brook School is in Croydon; for families living there:
Apply to Croydon for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 86
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 12
- Children hurt
- 10
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 86 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 12 serious and 73 slight.
10 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 6 on foot and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise.
17 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
109%
Over capacity
98 pupils
90 places
8 pupils over capacity
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
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
1
SEN Support
97
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
98
Total Pupils
87
Boys
11
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
19
Teachers
5.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,166
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
10.5%
Overall absence
33.7%
Persistent absence
101
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Chaffinch Brook School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Chaffinch Brook School
What are GCSE results like at Chaffinch Brook School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Chaffinch Brook School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 6.1. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Chaffinch Brook School's Ofsted rating?
Chaffinch Brook School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2024.
What is the catchment area for Chaffinch Brook School?
No fixed boundary. When Chaffinch Brook School is oversubscribed, Croydon allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Chaffinch Brook School?
Chaffinch Brook School has around 98 pupils on roll. 83% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Chaffinch Brook School?
10.5% of sessions were missed at Chaffinch Brook School in 2024/25. 33.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Chaffinch Brook School?
Apply through Croydon's coordinated admissions process, naming Chaffinch Brook School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Chaffinch Brook School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 86 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 12 serious and 73 slight. 10 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 6 on foot and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise. 17 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 Chaffinch Brook School?
Chaffinch Brook School is at 32 Morland Road, Croydon, CR0 6NA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)