Harris Invictus Academy Croydon
109%
Capacity
980
Pupils
2.7x
Demand
About Harris Invictus Academy Croydon
Harris Invictus Academy Croydon holds an Ofsted Outstanding rating, confirmed in its most recent ungraded inspection in 2023, which found the school remains Outstanding. This places it among just five secondary schools in Croydon to hold that top grade. The most informative exam metric for the school is its Progress 8 score of -0.1, which is rated as 'Average' nationally. While this is slightly below the Croydon local authority average of -0.04, it tells a more nuanced story when you look at individual subjects: pupils made strong progress in English (0.4) and maths (0.14), but weaker progress in the 'open' bucket of subjects (-0.69). The school's Attainment 8 score sits at 42.4, and 59.4% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. A high 75.8% of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects, though only 26.1% achieved it at grade 4 or above.
At A-level, the picture is more challenging. The school's value added score of -0.64 is classed as 'Well below average', with pupils achieving an average of 27.1 points per entry, equivalent to a C- grade. The best three A-levels averaged 26.74 points, also a C-. With only 51 pupils in the sixth form, the cohort is relatively small, and no pupils achieved the AAB combination in facilitating subjects. In terms of local rankings, Harris Invictus ranks 15th out of 22 Croydon secondaries by Progress 8, placing it in the bottom half of the borough. Nationally, it sits at 1,776th out of 3,141 schools, which is around the 57th percentile. The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 490 applications for 179 places, with 105 first-preference offers, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.74.
The school is a mixed, non-denominational secondary for ages 11 to 18, with a current roll of 980 pupils against a capacity of 900, meaning it is operating above capacity. It has a high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 46.7%. Facilities are strong and include a swimming pool, sports hall, theatre, music rooms, art studios, and a sixth form centre. Sports on offer include rowing, rugby, and hockey, while clubs range from Debate and Young Enterprise to DofE and Coding. The school provides for a wide range of SEND needs, including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Speech, Language & Communication, and Social, Emotional & Mental Health. This is a school that suits families who value a strong Ofsted rating and a broad extracurricular offer, but who are realistic about academic outcomes that are average at GCSE and below average at A-level. Its popularity in admissions suggests it is a first-choice for many local families.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | 88 London Road, Croydon, Croydon, CR0 2TB |
| Headteacher | Dougal Scott |
| Local Authority | Croydon |
| Number of Pupils | 980 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 46.7% |
| School Capacity | 980 / 900 (109% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
19 Jan 2023Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Latest inspection (19 Jan 2023): School remains Outstanding
Source: Ofsted, 14 Nov 2016. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.10)
1776th of 3,141
Nationally
380th of 487
In London
15th of 22
In Croydon
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
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)
'22/23
23.8
'23/24
27.1
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
2022/2358%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 12 pupils).
- University (HE)58%
- Employment17%
- Apprenticeship8%
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
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed179
490
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
105 families put this school as their 1st choice (21% 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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Asian31.3%
- Mixed11.6%
- White (other)11.1%
- White British4.9%
- Black3.9%
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.
23
Total schools
15
Oversubscribed
17
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 Invictus Academy Croydon
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
88 London Road, Croydon
Croydon, CR0 2TB
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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