Norbury High School for Girls
86%
Capacity
1,173
Pupils
1.9x
Demand
About Norbury High School for Girls
Norbury High School for Girls is a popular choice among Croydon families, with 280 applications for 151 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.85. Of those, 126 families put the school as their first preference, and all 126 were offered a place. While the school does not publish a parent recommendation percentage, the high demand suggests strong local satisfaction. The school is a state-funded girls’ secondary with a co-educational sixth form, led by headteacher Markieu Hayden. It was rated Good by Ofsted in its most recent graded inspection in 2013, and an ungraded inspection in 2022 confirmed the school remains Good, with leadership and management also rated Good. The school’s previous inspection in 2010 had rated it Outstanding overall, so the current Good rating represents a step down, but the 2022 visit found no reason to change the grade.
Academically, Norbury performs well above the Croydon average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.27 is significantly higher than the local authority average of -0.04, placing it 6th out of 22 secondary schools in the borough. In English, progress is particularly strong at 0.73, while maths progress is slightly negative at -0.15. The Attainment 8 score is 50.1, and 70.5% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. At A-level, the school’s value-added score of 0.32 is rated above average, with pupils achieving an average of 30.94 points per entry, equivalent to a C grade. The best three A-levels averaged a B- grade. Nationally, the school ranks in the top 30% for Progress 8, and in the top 50% within London.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including science labs, a sixth form centre, tennis courts, an astro turf, and playing fields. Sports on offer include rowing, martial arts, and swimming, while clubs range from Model UN and Debate to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and Young Enterprise. SEND provision covers eight categories including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. With 31.5% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. Norbury is a good fit for families seeking a girls’ secondary with strong academic progress, a well-established sixth form, and a broad extracurricular offer, particularly those who value a school that is oversubscribed but still accessible to first-preference applicants.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 19 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Kensington Avenue, Thornton Heath, Croydon, CR7 8BT |
| Headteacher | Markieu Hayden |
| Local Authority | Croydon |
| Number of Pupils | 1,173 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 31.5% |
| School Capacity | 1,173 / 1,370 (86% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
16 Mar 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (16 Mar 2022): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 28 Jun 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.27)
918th of 3,141
Nationally
254th of 487
In London
6th 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
36.4
'22/23
30.3
'23/24
30.9
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
2022/2376%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 78 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
10%
Russell Group
12%
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)76%
- Employment15%
- Not sustained4%
- Further education3%
- Apprenticeship3%
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
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
20Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed151
280
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
126 families put this school as their 1st choice (45% 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.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
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
- Asian45.9%
- Mixed8.7%
- White (other)4.1%
- White British3.2%
- Black2.6%
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.
19
Total schools
15
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 Norbury High School for Girls
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
Kensington Avenue, Thornton Heath
Croydon, CR7 8BT
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Norbury High School for Girls!
Write a Review