Schools by area › Croydon › Shirley High School Performing Arts College
Shirley High School Performing Arts College
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–19 · Academy
Shirley Church Road, Croydon CR0 5EF · shirley.croydon.sch.uk · 020 8656 9755
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Nov 2022
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 37.7
- average Attainment 8 score. Croydon 44.5, England 46
- Last distance offered
- 6.41 mi
- 10.32 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · Croydon Council
- Demand for places
- 0.6
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 800
- 72% of 1,105 places
- Local authority
- Croydon
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 51.9%
- First language not English
- 28.6%
- School census 2025/26
- Trust
- Shirley High School
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered on distance went to a home 6.41 mi (10.32 km) from the school; in September 2025 it was 11.48 mi (18.48 km). Source: Croydon Council’s document.
For Year 7 in September 2026, 84 families put the school first and 142 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
Demand for places
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 142 | 84 | 0.6 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 166 | 97 | 0.6 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 125 | 66 | 0.5 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 141 | 59 | 0.4 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 174 | 76 | 0.4 | 100% |
Last distance offered
| Year 7 | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 6.41 mi10.32 km | |
| September 2025 | 11.48 mi18.48 km | |
| September 2024 | 4.20 mi6.76 km | |
| September 2023 | 4.00 mi6.45 km | |
| September 2022 | 4.93 mi7.94 km | |
The furthest distance at which a place was offered under the distance criterion.
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 37.7, and 23.3% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Croydon it was 44.5, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C- (26.2 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼37.7 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼23.3% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼49.2% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼31.7% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.20 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 39.4 | −8.6 |
| Sixth form college | 0.6 | −0.6 |
| Further education | 43.4 | +4.2 |
| Other education | 0.6 | — |
| Apprenticeship | 1.7 | — |
| Employment | 2.9 | 0 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 6.9 | +0.5 |
| Activity not captured | 4.6 | +2.3 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48 students | C- (26.2) | Below average -0.24 | |
| 48 students | C- (26.2) | Below average -0.24 | |
| 27 students | Merit+ (28.2) | Average +0.03 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 45 | C (29.1) | -0.05 |
| 2022/23 | 54 | D+ (24.8) | — |
| 2021/22 | 37 | C- (27.4) | — |
| 2018/19 | 58 | C- (25.8) | -0.04 |
| 2017/18 | 42 | C (29.8) | +0.13 |
| 2016/17 | 39 | C+ (32) | +0.36 |
| 2015/16 | 39 | C (30.4) | +0.12 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 49.1 | +1.5 |
| Further education | 1.8 | +0.2 |
| Apprenticeship | 1.8 | −7.7 |
| Employment | 19.3 | −2.9 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 15.8 | −1.7 |
| Activity not captured | 12.3 | +10.7 |
Ofsted
Shirley High School Performing Arts College was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 30 November 2022, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 30 Nov 2022
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth form | Good |
Previously: Requires improvement, graded inspection, Jan 2019
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Jan 2019Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Requires improvement 16 to 19 study programmes Good Safeguarding Effective Jan 2016Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good Safeguarding Effective Nov 2013Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement
What parents said
71% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (70 replies, to 4 September 2023).
- Recommend
- 71%
- Replies
- 70
- 8% · 4 Sept 2023
based on the 86% who raised concerns
based on the 56% who had a child bullied
based on 19 parents (27%) with SEND