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Harris Primary Academy Benson

Croydon, CR0 8RQPrimaryAges 3–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Outstanding
Jun 2023
KS2 Results
79%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.3×
Oversubscribed
39 1st-choice / 30 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#1658 of 13,686 nationally

About Harris Primary Academy Benson

Harris Primary Academy Benson is a state primary school in Croydon, one of 88 primaries in the borough. It ranks 14th in the local authority, placing it comfortably in the top 25% of Croydon primaries. The top three schools locally are Heathfield Academy, St John's CofE Primary School, and Applegarth Academy, with St John's also being the nearest Outstanding-rated school, just 0.6 km away. Benson itself holds an Outstanding rating from its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, a significant upgrade from its previous Good rating in 2015. The school is led by headteacher Lee Searle and serves 238 pupils, well below its capacity of 420. It is a mixed, non-religious school with a nursery provision for children aged three and above. Over 30% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, reflecting a diverse intake.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range3 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressWest Way, Croydon, Croydon, CR0 8RQ
HeadteacherLee Searle
Local AuthorityCroydon
Number of Pupils238
Free School Meals (FSM)30.2%
School Capacity238 / 420 (57% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

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

7 Jun 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Early Years Provision
Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 20 Jul 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

6
GymnasiumForest SchoolDining HallLibraryPlaying FieldsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

7

Sports

SwimmingCross CountryDanceGymnastics

Clubs & Activities

Book ClubCodingEco Club

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

SEND Support

AutismMental HealthSpeech & LanguageVisionPhysical

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:30 – 15:30

Breakfast club

07:30-08:30

After-school care

15:30-18:00

Source: harrisprimarybenson.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Harris Primary Academy Benson

Harris Primary Academy Benson has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.