Smitham Primary School, Coulsdon

Good
Primary
Community school
Mixed
Ages 311

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~454m)Possible (~648m)Unlikely (~842m)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mrs Charlotte Groom
Pupils:654 / 660 capacity
LA:Croydon
Phone:02086604399
Address:Portnalls Road, Coulsdon, CR5 3DE
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 3 years ago
-

Overall

Inspected 19 April 2023View full report
URN:101759
UKPRN:10071268
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Croydon South
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Smitham Primary School excels at creating a warm, inclusive environment where all pupils thrive. The school combines excellent teaching with a creative curriculum that truly engages children in their learning, whilst celebrating their achievements prominently throughout the school. Pupils are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning and to support their peers, fostering confidence and strong relationships across the school community.

Key Strengths

  • Consistent good quality teaching with a creative, engaging topic-based curriculum that promotes pupil progress
  • Strong leadership at all levels with effective support for pupils with additional needs who make particularly strong progress
  • Positive school culture celebrating learning with pupils taking responsibility as 'learning ambassadors' and helping younger peers
  • Effective safeguarding with a strong culture of safety and well-trained staff
  • Good behaviour and a kind, respectful school environment where pupils from diverse backgrounds get on well together

Areas for Improvement

  • Progress of the most able pupils, particularly the most able disadvantaged pupils, is more variable - adults' expectations are not always high enough and tasks sometimes lack sufficient challenge
  • Overall attendance is average with a small minority of pupils missing more school than they should - current strategies are not always effective in improving their attendance
  • Need to focus more sharply on securing the best outcomes for higher-ability pupils to move the school towards outstanding

Safeguarding

Safeguarding arrangements are effective with a strong culture of safety, stringent checks on adults, well-trained staff and governors, and careful planning for pupil safety on trips and activities.

Extracurricular Activities

After-school clubs, dance, triathlon, sports, pond dipping activities, school council, team captain roles

Smitham Primary School is a warm and welcoming good school where pupils learn well and get on very well together. It is popular with parents, staff and pupils, with leaders creating a culture where learning is celebrated.

At a Glance

14.5%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

Yes

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2025/26

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading-2ppMaths-9ppWriting-4pp

Reading has remained stable at around 86%. Maths has declined from 80% to 71%. Writing has declined from 80% to 76%.

Class Sizes

29.0

Avg class size

29.9

Infant (KS1)

29.3

KS2

22

Total classes

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Train Stations

Coulsdon South (Entrance)
491m · 8 min walk
Coulsdon South Rail Station
526m · 9 min walk
Woodmansterne Station (Entrance)
716m · 12 min walk

Bus Stops

Portnalls Road (->W)
115m · 2 min walk
Coniston Road (->E)
199m · 3 min walk
Tullick Way (->E)
277m · 5 min walk
Woodmansterne Road (->W)
283m · 5 min walk
Salter Close (->E)
311m · 5 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

99%

Near capacity

654 pupils

660 capacity

6 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Coulsdon

High pressure
New homes approved:436
Projected new pupils:109

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Coulsdon

Admissions Demand - Croydon

Low demand0.88x oversubscription

Places available

4,890

Applications

4,309

Got 1st preference

86.7%

Got preferred school

98.1%

Primary admissions across Croydon (2025/26)

Inspection History(6)

19 April 2023
3 December 2020
22 March 2017
Leadership & ManagementGood

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

4.29277%

Overall absence

8.20313%

Persistent absence

512

Enrolments

Authorised2.99325%
Unauthorised1.29951%
Persistent (10%+)8.20313%
Severe (50%+)0%

Absence trend

4.12824%
18/19
4.4779%
20/21
5.76558%
21/22
4.99994%
22/23
4.38768%
23/24
4.29277%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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