Schools by area › Croydon › Forest Academy
Forest Academy
Primary · Mixed · Ages 3–11 · Academy
Bridle Road, Shirley, Croydon CR0 8HQ · forestacademy.org.uk · 020 8777 2808
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Jul 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 73%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Croydon 68%, England 62%
- Last distance offered
- 0.39 mi
- 0.62 km · Reception, September 2026 entry · Croydon Council
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 180
- 27% of 656 places
- Local authority
- Croydon
- Nursery class
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 60%
- First language not English
- 37.2%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, the last place offered on distance went to a home 0.39 mi (623 m) from the school; in September 2025 it was 2.16 mi (3.48 km). Source: Croydon Council’s document.
For Reception in September 2026, 12 families put the school first and 12 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
| Reception | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 12 | 12 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 28 | 19 | 0.7 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 24 | 22 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 24 | 22 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 20 | 17 | 0.9 | 100% |
Last distance offered
| Reception | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 0.39 mi0.62 km | |
| September 2025 | 2.16 mi3.48 km | |
| September 2024 | 2.12 mi3.41 km | |
| September 2022 | All | |
The furthest distance at which the school offered a place for the 2024, 2025 and 2026 intake.
The council lists the school as having vacancies on 19 April 2022: everyone who applied was offered a place.
Results
In 2024/25, 73% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 7% the higher standard. Across Croydon it was 68%, and across England 62%.
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▲73% | 62% | ||
| ●7% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●105 | 106 | ||
| ●103 | 105 | ||
| ●105 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Forest Academy on 14 July 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Strong standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Strong standard
- Achievement: Strong standard
- Attendance and behaviour: Strong standard
- Personal development and well-being: Strong standard
- Early years: Strong standard
- Leadership and governance: Exceptional
- Inspected
- 14 Jul 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Strong standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Strong standard |
| Achievement | Strong standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Strong standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Strong standard |
| Early years | Strong standard |
| Leadership and governance | Exceptional |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Feb 2022
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Feb 2022Good
Quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Jun 2018Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good Safeguarding Effective Apr 2015Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Outstanding Early years Good Sept 2011Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Early years Requires improvement
What parents said
85% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (13 replies, to 2 January 2023).
- Recommend
- 85%
- Replies
- 13
- 6% · 2 Jan 2023
based on the 85% who raised concerns
based on the 54% who had a child bullied