Keston Primary School

About Keston Primary School

Keston Primary School is a state-funded mixed primary in Croydon, and it stands out in the local landscape. Among 77 primary schools in the borough, it ranks 7th, placing it comfortably in the top 10. The three top-performing peers in Croydon are Heathfield Academy, St John's CofE Primary School, and Applegarth Academy, all of which score higher on the same ranking metric. Keston is also one of only 17 schools in the borough rated Outstanding in its most recent graded inspection, though its current overall effectiveness is Good. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Harris Primary Academy Kenley, 2.6 km away. With a capacity of 420 and 449 pupils on roll, the school is oversubscribed, receiving 200 applications for 59 places in the 2025/26 admissions round. Headteacher Tara Eason leads a school that draws families from across the area, and its nursery provision means children can join from age three.

Academically, Keston performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 83% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths combined, compared with a Croydon average of 66%. The school’s ranking score of 83 on this metric places it in the top 10% nationally. In reading, the average scaled score was 106, with 37% of pupils achieving the higher standard. Maths saw an average score of 107 and 37% reaching the higher standard, while 92% met the expected standard in maths and writing. Only 13% hit the higher standard across all three subjects. Ofsted’s most recent ungraded inspection in 2023 confirmed the school remains Good, with leadership and management also rated Good. The previous graded inspection in 2013 gave an overall Outstanding, though the early years provision was rated Requires Improvement in 2006.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including art studios, a library, playing fields, a sports hall, and a gymnasium. Sports on offer include football, cricket, dance, rounders, and tennis, while clubs such as Book Club, Science Club, Eco Club, and Art Club run alongside the curriculum. Keston’s SEND provision is extensive, covering moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, hearing impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. The school is oversubscribed, with a ratio of 3.39 applications per place, and 56 of the 59 places went to first-preference applicants. This is a school that suits families who prioritise strong academic outcomes within a supportive, well-resourced environment, and who are prepared for a competitive admissions process in a popular Croydon primary.

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