Gonville Academy, Thornton Heath
Gonville Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Thornton Heath, part of Step Academy Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2012. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in April 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 4th-highest of the 11 schools in Thornton Heath with published results, and 2,234th of 14,452 across England. It was 78% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2012)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Croydon (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Gonville Academy in detail
Gonville Academy in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "On behalf of the children and staff, it is with great pleasure that I welcome you to Gonville Academy. We are extremely proud of the strong values, educational achievements and the opportunities that our pupils experience throughout their educational journey here."
Coming up: an open day on Thursday 5 November 2026 at 9.30am and an open day on Thursday 12 November 2026 at 9.30am. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Croydon
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 88% of Year 6 pupils at Gonville Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 88% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 80% and 80% in Croydon and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (84% in reading, 90% in maths).
Getting a place at Gonville Academy
For September 2026 entry, 45 families put Gonville Academy as their first choice and 117 named it as one of their preferences, for 47 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Gonville Academy are Paxton Academy Sports And Science (0.3 miles, Good, 90% reading, 90% maths); Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School (0.4 miles, Good); Winterbourne Boys' Academy (0.4 miles, Good, 89% reading, 86% maths); and Winterbourne Junior Girls' School (0.4 miles, Good, 91% reading, 96% maths).
Gonville Academy's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.
Paxton Academy Sports And ScienceWinterbourne Nursery and Infants' SchoolWinterbourne Boys' AcademyWinterbourne Junior Girls' School
The trust
Gonville Academy is one of 19 schools run by Step Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 80% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
Who goes there
67.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (61%), Black (23%) and Mixed (9%).
In 2026, 37 pupils (8.7%) received SEN support and 14 (3.3%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Therapia Lane Tram Stop, about 1150 metres away (roughly a 14-minute walk).
1 bus stop is within a five-minute walk; the closest is Silverleigh Road, 350 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
Gonville Academy recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Gonville Academy are The Archbishop Lanfranc Academy (0.4 miles) and Harris Academy Merton (0.7 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoThis judgement is from June 2012, 14 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its June 2012 inspection - down from Outstanding.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
20.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 84% to 88% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 88% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 76% to 80% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
26.0
Avg class size
28.7
Infant (KS1)
28.1
KS2
16
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Gonville Academy
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Gonville Academy.
- Stars Club810m away · Not yet graded
- KG Doodles @ West Thornton Primary School (Rosecourt)820m away · Not yet graded
- Head4goal920m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
Gonville Academy is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Croydon's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Gonville Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Gonville Academy 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
- 74
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 11
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 74 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 11 serious and 63 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot.
18 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
Your chances of a place at Gonville Academy
Will you get a place at Gonville Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Gonville Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Gonville Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Gonville Academy.
- Croydon publishes last distance offered figures, but none for Gonville Academy that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Gonville Academy for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Croydon got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
78%
Available places
412 pupils
529 places
117 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Thornton Heath
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Thornton Heath
Across Croydon council
Places available
4,828
Applications
4,082
Got 1st preference
89.6%
Got preferred school
99.2%
All primary applications across Croydon council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
37
SEN Support
14
EHC Plans
11.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
427
Total Pupils
203
Boys
224
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
21
Teachers
20.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,919
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,724
Per pupil
£2596k
Total funding
£152k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.2%
Overall absence
12.0%
Persistent absence
374
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Gonville Academy
Questions parents ask about Gonville Academy
What are SATs results like at Gonville Academy?
Of the pupils at Gonville Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 88% reached the expected standard in reading and 88% did so in maths.
What is Gonville Academy's Ofsted rating?
Gonville Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2012, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Gonville Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Gonville Academy is oversubscribed, Croydon allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Gonville Academy?
Gonville Academy was not full in 2025: it ran at 78% of its 529 places.
How big are the classes at Gonville Academy?
Classes at Gonville Academy average 26 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Gonville Academy?
Gonville Academy has around 427 pupils on roll. 21% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Gonville Academy?
5.2% of sessions were missed at Gonville Academy in 2024/25. 12% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Gonville Academy?
Apply through Croydon's coordinated admissions process, naming Gonville Academy on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Gonville Academy have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 3 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of Gonville Academy: Stars Club (810m away, registered, not yet graded), KG Doodles @ West Thornton Primary School (Rosecourt) (820m away, registered, not yet graded) and Head4goal (920m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Gonville Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 74 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 11 serious and 63 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot. 18 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 Gonville Academy?
Gonville Academy is at Gonville Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey, CR7 6DL.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)