Purley Oaks Primary School, South Croydon

From the headteacher's welcome: "At Purley Oaks we firmly believe that every child will be supported, valued and challenged. We are ambitious for our children and their families and are driven by our moral purpose to ensure that everything we do has a positive impact on the children’s lives."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, gymnastics, yoga, dance, drama, choir, Lego and cooking.

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:30am and after-school care until 5:00pm, from £5.00 per day.

In 2025, 73% of Year 6 pupils at Purley Oaks Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 73% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 80% and 80% in Croydon and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 66% in reading and 67% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 69 families put Purley Oaks Primary School as their first choice and 218 named it as one of their preferences, for 78 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 Purley Oaks Primary School are Harris Primary Academy Haling Park (0.4 miles, Outstanding, 83% reading, 92% maths); St Peter's Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 95% reading, 93% maths); Regina Coeli Catholic Primary School (0.5 miles); and Ridgeway Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 85% reading, 77% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Purley Oaks Primary School.

91 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Purley Oaks Primary School (as of September 2025): 89% would recommend the school, 92% say their child is happy there and 48% 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) (48%).

27.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Black (27%), White British (19%) and Mixed (18%).

In 2026, 88 pupils (13.7%) received SEN support and 17 (2.6%) 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 Sanderstead, about 510 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is South Croydon Bus Garage, 130 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 305 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Croydon (488).

In 2024/25, Purley Oaks Primary School issued 3 suspensions, 0.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Purley Oaks Primary School are Harris Academy Purley (0.5 miles), Coombe Wood School (1.1 miles) and Thomas More Catholic School (1.2 miles).