Harris Academy South Norwood
89%
Capacity
1,018
Pupils
2.6x
Demand
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.
Academically, the school performs well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.45 is classed as Above average, and it ranks 2nd out of 22 schools in Croydon on that metric. That’s a strong result, especially compared with the Croydon LA average Progress 8 of -0.04. In the 2023/24 results, 62.4% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and the Attainment 8 score was 48.1. The EBacc average point score was 4.43, with 56.4% of pupils entering the EBacc combination. At A-level, the picture is more mixed: the school’s value added score of -0.54 is classed as Below average, and the average points per entry was 27.52, equivalent to a C- grade. The sixth form provision itself, however, was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in 2022, so the teaching and support there are clearly strong even if the raw outcomes don’t yet reflect that.
The school offers a solid range of facilities, including a swimming pool, sports hall, gymnasium, science labs, art studios, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports on offer include swimming, football, cricket, tennis, hockey, and gymnastics, while clubs range from the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and Model UN to Young Enterprise and an eco club. SEND provision is broad, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, speech and language needs, hearing impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. For families weighing up options, this is a school that delivers strong GCSE progress in a diverse, urban setting, with a sixth form that’s been recognised as excellent. It’s particularly well suited to families who want a large, oversubscribed academy with a proven track record of pushing pupils above the local average.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Cumberlow Avenue, London, Croydon, SE25 6AE |
| Headteacher | Charlie Comerford |
| Local Authority | Croydon |
| Number of Pupils | 1,018 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 38.7% |
| School Capacity | 1,018 / 1,150 (89% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
11 May 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 21 Sept 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.45)
561st of 3,141
Nationally
182nd of 487
In London
2nd of 22
In Croydon
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
33.4
'22/23
26.2
'23/24
27.5
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2370%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 158 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
7%
Russell Group
10%
Top-third HE
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)70%
- Employment11%
- Not sustained11%
- Further education1%
- Other education1%
- Apprenticeship1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed147
387
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
94 families put this school as their 1st choice (24% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Mixed12.4%
- White (other)11.5%
- Asian10.7%
- White British8.7%
- Black8.0%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
21
Total schools
16
Oversubscribed
14
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Harris Academy South Norwood
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Cumberlow Avenue, London
Croydon, SE25 6AE
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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