Gresham Primary School

About Gresham Primary School

Gresham Primary School in Croydon is a state primary for mixed pupils aged 4 to 11, currently home to 238 children against a capacity of 246. That near-full roll is no surprise given the intense demand for places: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 264 applications for just 30 spots, an oversubscription ratio of 8.8 to one. Only 28 first-preference offers were made from 37 first-preference applications, so securing a place is genuinely competitive. The school’s intake is notably less disadvantaged than the local average — just 3.8% of pupils qualify for free school meals, compared with the national primary average of around 23%. This suggests a catchment that skews towards more affluent families, and the school’s popularity among local parents is clearly reflected in those application numbers. Headteacher Karen Steele leads a school that has held a Good Ofsted rating across both its most recent inspections, in 2014 and 2023.

Academically, Gresham performs well above the Croydon local authority average. At Key Stage 2 in 2023/24, 74% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, against a LA average of 66%. The school’s ranking score of 74 places it 28th out of 77 primaries in Croydon, putting it in the top 25% of schools locally. In reading, the average scaled score was 109, with 45% of pupils achieving the higher standard; in maths, the average was 108, with 39% reaching the higher threshold. Writing was a relative weakness, with only 13% hitting the higher standard and 74% at expected — the same as the combined figure. Progress scores for reading, writing and maths were not published, so it’s hard to say how much value the school adds, but the raw outcomes are solidly above the borough norm. Nationally, the school sits in the top 22% of all primaries for the combined expected standard.

The school offers a decent spread of facilities including a library, ICT suite, playing fields, a gymnasium and a Forest School, plus a chapel on site. Sports provision covers football, netball, cricket, tennis, athletics, cross country and dance, and there are clubs for book, chess, coding and science. SEND support is broad, covering moderate learning difficulty, speech and language needs, hearing impairment, autistic spectrum disorder and social, emotional and mental health needs — so the school is equipped to support a range of additional needs despite its low FSM intake. With no nursery or sixth form, it’s a straightforward primary for Reception to Year 6. Given the fierce competition for places, this school will suit families who live very close to the catchment and are prepared to apply as a first preference. The nearest Outstanding-rated alternative is Harris Primary Academy Kenley, two kilometres away, but Gresham’s Good rating and strong results make it a popular choice in its own right.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Gresham Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents