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Harris Academy South Norwood

Croydon, SE25 6AESecondaryAges 11–19MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
May 2022
Progress 8
+0.45
Above average
−20+2
Competition
0.6×
Not oversubscribed
94 1st-choice / 147 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#561 of 3,141 nationally

About Harris Academy South Norwood

Harris Academy South Norwood is a popular choice among Croydon families, and the numbers back that up. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 387 applications for 147 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.63. Of those, 94 families put it as their first preference, and all first-preference applicants were offered a place. That level of demand suggests parents who get to know the school tend to be keen on it. The school is led by headteacher Charlie Comerford and has a Good rating from Ofsted, with an Outstanding sixth form provision. It’s a mixed, non-religious state secondary for ages 11 to 19, and it sits within the Croydon local authority. With 1,018 pupils on a capacity of 1,150, it’s running close to full, which is typical for a school in demand.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 19 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressCumberlow Avenue, London, Croydon, SE25 6AE
HeadteacherCharlie Comerford
Local AuthorityCroydon
Number of Pupils1,018
Free School Meals (FSM)38.7%
School Capacity1,018 / 1,150 (89% 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
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

11 May 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 21 Sept 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

7
Swimming PoolSixth Form CentreSports HallGymnasiumScience LabsArt StudiosChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

15

Sports

RoundersGymnasticsTennisHockeyCricketFootballSwimmingBasketball

Clubs & Activities

NewspaperEco ClubArt ClubYoung EnterpriseDuke of EdinburghGardeningModel United Nations

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingPhysicalLearning DifficultyMulti-SensoryOther

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Harris Academy South Norwood

Harris Academy South Norwood has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.