Harris Primary Academy Purley Way, Croydon

In its own words: "The whole community strive for Harris Primary Academy Purley Way to be best it can possibly be which is encapsulated by our vision statement: "Excellence for All". Our core values of: Positivity, Ambition and Integrity, underpin everything that happens in our academy and we have high expectations that these are followed and modelled by all staff, parents and children."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Thank you for your interest in Harris Primary Academy Purley Way, whether you are a prospective parent or simply finding out more about our academy. Since opening in September 2016, Harris Primary Academy Purley Way has grown from a single Reception cohort to a thriving, three-form entry primary school with 630 pupils across 21 classes from Reception to Year 6."

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:30am and after-school care until 6:00pm, from £5 per session.

Coming up: an open day on Thursday 12 November 2026, an open day on Thursday 10 December 2026 and an open day on Wednesday 16 June 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 80% of Year 6 pupils at Harris Primary Academy Purley Way reached the expected standard in reading and 80% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 80% and 80% in Croydon and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 87% in reading and 94% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 52 families put Harris Primary Academy Purley Way as their first choice and 206 named it as one of their preferences, for 63 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Harris Primary Academy Purley Way are Aerodrome Primary Academy (0.3 miles, Good, 82% reading, 80% maths); High View Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 82% reading, 78% maths); The Minster Junior School (0.6 miles, 84% reading, 82% maths); and The Minster Nursery and Infants Church of England Academy (0.6 miles).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Harris Primary Academy Purley Way.

Harris Primary Academy Purley Way is one of 59 schools run by Harris Federation, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 79% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

83 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Harris Primary Academy Purley Way (as of April 2026): 95% would recommend the school, 92% say their child is happy there and 84% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (95%); the weakest, that pupils behave well (83%).

35.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 32.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Black (33%), Asian (22%) and Mixed (20%).

In 2026, 54 pupils (9.4%) received SEN support and 16 (2.8%) 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.

The nearest railway station is Waddon, about 540 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).

14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Coldharbour Road, 100 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Harris Primary Academy Purley Way stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Harris Primary Academy Purley Way issued 4 suspensions, 0.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Harris Primary Academy Purley Way are Wilson's School (0.5 miles) and Harris Academy Purley (0.8 miles).