Monks Orchard Primary School

About Monks Orchard Primary School

Monks Orchard Primary School sits within the Croydon local authority, a large London borough with 88 primary schools. The school currently ranks 42nd out of those 88, placing it in the middle of the pack locally. For context, the top-performing peers in the borough are Heathfield Academy, St John's CofE Primary School, and Applegarth Academy, all of which score higher on the same ranking metric. Monks Orchard is a state-funded, mixed primary school for children aged 2 to 11, with no religious character. It is led by headteacher Debbie Shilling and currently has 201 pupils on roll, well below its capacity of 670. The school has a nursery provision, which is a practical option for local families looking for early years education. A notable 34.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is significantly above the national average and reflects the school's role in serving a diverse and economically varied community.

Academically, Monks Orchard performs around the middle of the Croydon primary school table. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 68% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths combined, which is just above the local authority average of 66%. The school's average scores in reading and maths were both 106, and 11% of pupils achieved the higher standard in all three subjects. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, the school was rated Good across all categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. This marks a clear improvement from the previous inspection in 2018, when the school was rated Requires Improvement overall. The early years provision, which had been graded as Requires Improvement previously, also moved up to Good. The school does not have a sixth form, as it is a primary-only setting.

The school offers a solid range of facilities, including playing fields, a library, art studios, an ICT suite, a sports hall, and a chapel. Sports on offer include athletics, swimming, tennis, and cross country, and there are clubs such as film, gardening, and drama. For families with children who have additional needs, Monks Orchard provides a resourced provision and support for a wide range of SEND categories, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. The school was oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, with 81 applications for 24 places and 21 first-preference offers made. That oversubscription ratio of 3.38 to 1 means it is a popular choice locally, and families should be prepared to apply early. This is a school that suits families who value a broad, inclusive primary experience with strong pastoral support and a clear trajectory of improvement.

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