St Giles School, South Croydon
St Giles School is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 19 in South Croydon. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in April 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
St Giles School in detail
St Giles School in its own words
In its own words: "At St Giles’ we are passionate about learning. Our school community includes and values everyone, working together to achieve in a supportive, caring and professional way. Our enthusiasm and positive energy make St Giles’ a truly happy and vibrant place to be. St Giles School believes that spiritual, moral, social and cultural education (SMSC) is vital for all pupils."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to St Giles School are Bright Minds Creative Academy (0.9 miles, Inadequate); Carew Academy (1 mile); Aspire Learning (1 mile, Good); and The Write Time (1 mile, Good).
Bright Minds Creative AcademyCarew AcademyAspire LearningThe Write Time
Where pupils go next
Of the 10 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 90% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
45.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 36.8% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Black (31%), Asian (25%) and Mixed (18%).
Almost every pupil at St Giles School has an education, health and care plan (109 of 114 in 2026). The most common need among them is a profound and multiple learning difficulty.
St Giles School provides for pupils with visual impairment, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Purley Oaks, about 1070 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Giles School, 40 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
St Giles School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoThis judgement is from July 2013, 13 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
From Ofsted's April 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
St Giles School creates a happy, welcoming environment where pupils arrive eager to learn and feel genuinely safe. Staff provide exceptional care and support tailored to each child's complex individual needs. The school offers an ambitious, carefully-constructed curriculum alongside a rich range of trips, visits and adapted sports to help pupils develop independence and enjoy their time at school.
Key Strengths
- Pupils' behaviour is exemplary - they are respectful, kind to each other, and feel safe at school
- Leaders have created an ambitious curriculum tailored to meet the very different complex needs of each pupil
- Literacy and reading are prioritised with varied approaches including sensory exploration and phonics
- Staff are well-trained, supported and demonstrate high commitment to pupils
- Wide range of trips, visits and adapted sports opportunities including residential trips and sporting events
Areas for Improvement
- Subject leaders do not routinely have dedicated time to check that the curriculum is being delivered effectively in classrooms - leaders need to follow through with plans to give them this time
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with meticulous staff suitability checks, clear systems to protect pupils from harm, regular staff training, and good coordination with external agencies.
Extracurricular Activities
Summer residential trip, adapted sports including boccia and table cricket, sporting events beyond the school, sensory exploration of texts and stories
St Giles School is a good special school that caters for pupils aged 2-19 with physical, sensory and complex medical needs. Pupils enjoy attending this happy, welcoming school where they feel safe and supported by committed staff.
At a Glance
45.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Vision, Hearing, Speech and language +5
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2023/24KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
2023/24 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from St Giles School
St Giles’ Teddy Bear Picnic
13 Jul 2026
Blue class sensory light & dark science
8 May 2026
Independence and life skills
8 May 2026
Science Week
8 May 2026
Keller Class news: Science Week
8 May 2026
Purple Class Celebrate Earth Day!
1 May 2026
From St Giles School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with St Giles School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Giles School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Giles 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
- 24
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 24 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 20 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot.
8 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
100%
Full
114 pupils
114 places
No spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - South Croydon
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for South 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(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
5
SEN Support
109
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
St Giles School provides for pupils with visual impairment, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
114
Total Pupils
60
Boys
54
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
19
Teachers
6.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£57,516
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
11.9%
Overall absence
40.0%
Persistent absence
95
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
St Giles School
Showing 10 of 13 linked schools
Questions parents ask about St Giles School
What are SATs results like at St Giles School?
Of the pupils at St Giles School who took the 2024 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is St Giles School's Ofsted rating?
St Giles School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in July 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St Giles School?
No fixed boundary. When St Giles School is oversubscribed, Croydon allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to St Giles School?
St Giles School has around 114 pupils on roll. 46% are eligible for free school meals.
Does St Giles School have specialist SEN provision?
St Giles School provides for pupils with visual impairment, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at St Giles School?
11.9% of sessions were missed at St Giles School in 2024/25. 40% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Giles School?
Apply through Croydon's coordinated admissions process, naming St Giles 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 St Giles School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 24 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 20 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot. 8 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 St Giles School?
St Giles School is at Pampisford Road, South Croydon, Surrey, CR2 6DF.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)