Classpot

Coombe Wood School

Croydon, CR2 7HYSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Jan 2023
Progress 8
+0.38
Above average
−20+2
Competition
2.5×
Oversubscribed
430 1st-choice / 175 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#667 of 3,141 nationally

About Coombe Wood School

Coombe Wood School is a mixed, non-denominational secondary school in Croydon, London, with a sixth form. In the local authority, it ranks 4th out of 22 schools of its type by Progress 8 score, placing it in the top 25% nationally. The three top-performing peers in Croydon are Coloma Convent Girls' School, Harris Academy South Norwood, and St Mary's Catholic High School. Headteacher Nicole Williams leads a school that is significantly oversubscribed: for 175 places in 2025/26, there were 1,479 total applications, with 430 first-preference applications and 139 first-preference offers. That gives an oversubscription ratio of 8.45, reflecting strong local demand. The school has a capacity of 1,100 but currently houses 1,136 pupils, and 27.3% of students are eligible for free school meals, which is above the national average and suggests a genuinely comprehensive intake.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
Address30 Melville Avenue, South Croydon, Croydon, CR2 7HY
HeadteacherNicole Williams
Local AuthorityCroydon
Number of Pupils1,136
Free School Meals (FSM)27.3%
School Capacity1,136 / 1,100 (103% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
See an example
One-off paymentNo subscriptionStripe checkout

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

17 Jan 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 1 Mar 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

12
Swimming PoolArt StudiosLibrarySports HallAstro TurfTheatreDining HallICT SuiteScience LabsGymnasiumPlaying FieldsSixth Form Centre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

13

Sports

GymnasticsCricketBadmintonRowingSwimmingAthleticsDanceHockey

Clubs & Activities

Art ClubOrchestraGardeningBook ClubModel United Nations

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyMulti-Sensory

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

Was this page helpful?

Frequently Asked Questions About Coombe Wood School

Coombe Wood School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.