Oasis Academy Shirley Park
85%
Capacity
1,659
Pupils
3.1x
Demand
About Oasis Academy Shirley Park
Oasis Academy Shirley Park is a large secondary school in Croydon with 1,659 pupils on roll, well below its official capacity of 1,955. That spare capacity might seem surprising given the demand: for 2025/26 entry, the school received 481 applications for 154 places, an oversubscription ratio of 3.12, and only 115 first-preference offers were made. The school serves a significantly disadvantaged community — 50.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, far above the national average. This context matters when interpreting the school's results, as it tells a story of a school working with a high-needs intake. The school is non-denominational and co-educational, with a sixth form attached, and is led by headteacher Andy Booth. It was rated Good by Ofsted in its most recent inspection in October 2024, a rating it has held consistently across its previous inspection in 2019.
Academically, the school's Progress 8 score for 2023/24 was -0.07, which is slightly below the Croydon local authority average of -0.04 and places it 14th out of 22 schools in the borough. That score is classified as 'Average' nationally, sitting at the 54th percentile. The Attainment 8 score was 42.7, and 60.2% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. In the EBacc, 36.6% of pupils entered the full suite, and 18% achieved a grade 5 or above in all components. At A-level, the school's value-added score was 0.27, which is rated 'Above average', with an average points per entry of 32.59 (equivalent to a C+ grade). The best three A-levels averaged a B- grade. Ofsted's inspection in 2024 rated all areas — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision — as Good.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a sports hall, astro turf, tennis courts, music rooms, art studios, and a sixth form centre. Sports on offer include cricket, swimming, rugby, and athletics, while clubs range from orchestra and choir to debate and Model UN. The school has a dedicated resourced provision and supports pupils with a wide range of SEND needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and physical disabilities. Parent View responses from 108 parents in the 2024/25 period show that 71% would recommend the school. Strong majorities agreed that their child is happy (83% strongly agree or agree) and feels safe (83%). However, only 30% agreed that SEND children receive the support they need, with 55% disagreeing or strongly disagreeing. This is a school that suits families who value a large, inclusive comprehensive with strong sixth-form outcomes and a wide extracurricular offer, but it's worth noting the mixed feedback on SEND provision.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Shirley Road, Croydon, Croydon, CR9 7AL |
| Headteacher | Andy Booth |
| Local Authority | Croydon |
| Number of Pupils | 1,659 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 50.6% |
| School Capacity | 1,659 / 1,955 (85% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
1 Oct 2024Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 12 Nov 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.07)
1683rd of 3,141
Nationally
376th of 487
In London
14th 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)
'21/22
36.6
'22/23
35.3
'23/24
32.6
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
2022/2353%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 85 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
27%
Russell Group
27%
Top-third HE
2%
Oxford / Cambridge
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)53%
- Employment20%
- Not sustained16%
- Further education2%
- Apprenticeship1%
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.
Ofsted Parent View
108 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Resourced ProvisionSource: 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
2025/26Oversubscribed154
481
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
115 families put this school as their 1st choice (24% 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 half 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
- Mixed19.8%
- Asian14.1%
- White British13.3%
- White (other)10.2%
- Black4.3%
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.
15
Total schools
12
Oversubscribed
10
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 Oasis Academy Shirley Park
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
Shirley Road, Croydon
Croydon, CR9 7AL
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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