School Chooser

Quest Primary School

Primary · ages 3-11MixedAcademy199 pupilsNurserySouth CroydonCroydon
School Chooser Score
22
Below
similar schools
Likely range 10 to 46, so it could be “well below”
Out of 100. Better than 31% of the 50 schools most like it. Getting better year on year.
OfstedGoodLast Ofsted inspection, February 2023
Reached the expected level at 1144%England 63%
Attendance95.1%England 94.8%
Pupils from low-income families40%Far more than most schools
Places63 spare199 pupils, 262 places
Pupils per teacher15.1School workforce census

Quest Primary School is a converter academy in South Croydon for boys and girls aged 3 to 11. It has 199 pupils and room for 262. About 40 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far more than at most schools in England. We give it 22 out of 100. That puts it below schools like it, ahead of 31% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2023.

Farnborough Avenue, South Croydon, CR2 8HD020 8657 4722questprimary.org.ukMiss Joanne Stawman headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted's last full inspection was on 28 February 2023, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Good overall.

TeachingOfsted calls this “quality of education”
Good
BehaviourOfsted calls this “behaviour and attitudes”
Good
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development”
Good
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and management”
Good
Early years
Good
Safeguarding
Effective
Yes

Results

Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025

27 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England.

Reached the expected level at 1144%
England 63%
Official name: Expected standard in reading, writing and maths
Working above the expected level4%
England 8%
Official name: Higher standard in reading, writing and maths
Reading score103.0
England 105.6
Official name: Reading average scaled score
Maths score101.0
England 104.6
Official name: Maths average scaled score
Trend
Reached the expected level at 11
2017 to 2025
2017: 66%66%20172018: 46%46%20182019: 50%50%20192023: 38%38%20232024: 38%38%20242025: 44%44%2025
Since 2017: -22%Improving overall
All Year 6 measures, year by year
Measure20252024202320192018†2017†CroydonEngland
Pupils tested273221242629
Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths44%38%38%50%46%66%70%63%
Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths4%9%0%0%0%0%10%8%
Reading scoreReading average scaled score103.0103.0101.0101.0100.0104.0106.3105.6
Maths scoreMaths average scaled score101.0101.0100.0101.0103.0103.0105.8104.6
Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score103.0103.0102.0101.0104.0107.0106.3105.2
Expected level: readingReading expected standard63%56%48%67%46%69%
Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard52%50%48%63%65%76%
Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed)56%63%67%67%65%72%
Reading progressReading progress score-3.2+0.1-6.0-2.9
Maths progressMaths progress score-3.0-1.1-1.8-3.1
Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged38%31%33%42%36%62%
Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged50%44%44%58%58%69%

There are no progress figures for 2025. That year group missed their Year 2 tests during Covid, so there was no starting point to measure from. Progress figures come back with the December 2026 results. Tests were cancelled altogether in 2020 and 2021.

† These results are for Gilbert Scott Primary School, the school this one replaced in September 2018. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. 2 of the 4 gaps are smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At the end of primary school, 2025

Reached the expected level at 11Low-income pupils vs other pupils
38%50%
Gap 12 ptsEngland 21 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Boys vs girls
17%67%
Gap 50 ptsEngland 5 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Pupils learning English vs all pupils
60%44%
Gap 16 ptsEngland 4 pts
Reached the higher level at 11Low-income pupils vs all pupils
0%4%
Gap 4 ptsEngland 5 pts
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

Getting a place

Admissions policy not published.

Plenty of spare places183 pupils for 262 places, 2024/25
70% full

79 places were empty (30% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have grown by 24% since 2021/22.

Each council publishes its own figures on how many families applied and how far away the last child to get a place lived. We are adding councils one at a time. If you have a link to Croydon council's admissions booklet, send it to us.

Who goes here

Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.

Pupils on roll199Census January 2026
Places26276% full
Pupils from low-income families40%40% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English43%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support23%46 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan14%27 pupils with a plan
Average class size19.69 classes, January 2026; England 25.4
Classes with more than 30 pupils0%Infant classes are capped at 30 by law; England 10%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)41%£113,150 extra funding in 2026/27; England 24%
Boys and girls105 / 94
White British pupils23%

Specialist SEND provision. SEN unit with 14 pupils, for autism, moderate learning difficulties, speech, language and communication.

To get a place in the unit or resourced provision, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school. Other schools in Croydon with autism provision.

Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 22.3 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 21.3 (England 27.3).

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: language and communications needs (26), SEN support but no specialist assessment of type of need (13), Autistic spectrum disorder (12), emotional and mental health (12), Specific learning difficulty (3), Other difficulty or disability (2).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll199210217182161174
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals40%32%35%40%42%42%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language43%41%38%34%34%29%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support23%19%26%14%13%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans14%12%8%8%10%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 95.1% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.

Attendance95.1%
England 94.8%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school14.0%
England 12.8%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils6.72024/25, no permanent exclusions
Missed without permission1.0%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence4.9%7.5%7.7%8.1%5.5%5.7%5.2%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence4.0%5.6%6.0%5.4%3.4%3.8%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence1.0%2.0%1.7%2.7%2.1%1.8%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence14.0%23.3%26.8%26.4%17.2%16.5%12.8%
SuspensionsSuspension rate6.76.08.82.52.9
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions00000

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers12.9full-time equivalent, 14 people
Pupils per teacher15.1Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers100%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants15.9full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£59,081
Teachers who left in the year0%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher2.12024/25

Money

From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other primary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£10,039England £7,128. Total £2.1m
Income per pupil£10,184England £7,587. Total £2.1m
Spent on teachers per pupil£4,720England £3,405
Money in reserve-15%In the red: -£326k, -£1,572 per pupil. England 9%
Money in against money out+£30kit took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£10,039spent per pupil

Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.

The area around the school

Crimes within 500 m20312 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate55 per 1,000 people40% lower than the England average
Typical house price£425,000Croydon
Nearest bus stop200 mHeathfield Vale / Farnborough Av, 13 stops within 500 m

Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.

Nearby schools

The closest primary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Forestdale Primary SchoolCouncil570 m405Good 202274Compare
Selsdon Primary and Nursery SchoolFoundation860 m325No overall grade 202522Compare
Courtwood Primary SchoolAcademy0.6 miles215Good 202235Compare
Applegarth AcademyAcademy0.9 miles396Good 202193Compare
Greenvale Primary SchoolCouncil0.9 miles216Good 202387Compare
Good Shepherd Catholic Primary and Nursery SchoolAcademy1.1 miles193Good 202436Compare
Castle Hill AcademyAcademy1.2 miles263Good 201971Compare
Harris Primary Academy BensonAcademy1.3 miles238Outstanding 202386Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares Quest Primary School with the 49 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 49 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats31%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the lower half of its group. Its score of 22 is 16 points below the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 0 · middle 38 · highest 96100

Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher

Of those 49 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than Quest Primary School, nearest first. A school with the same kind of pupils and a higher score is the fairest sign that it gets more out of them.

SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Monks Orchard Primary SchoolAcademy2.7 miles203Good 202358Compare
The Sherwood SchoolCouncil5.2 miles263Good 202338Compare
St Joseph's RC Junior SchoolRoman Catholic5.3 miles169Not inspected40Compare
Crown Lane Primary SchoolCouncil5.6 miles223Good 202329Compare
St George's CofE Primary SchoolAcademy5.9 miles206Report card 202690Compare
Grove Primary SchoolAcademy8.0 miles205Good 202250Compare
Cherry Orchard Primary SchoolCouncil9.2 miles174Not inspected68Compare
Fossdene Primary SchoolCouncil9.7 miles206Report card 202681Compare

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 22 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 22% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 10 to 46. That range is wide enough that the school could sit in the next band, so take the band as a rough guide rather than a verdict. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.

What we looked atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years25%below
-0.19
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 27 pupils
Ofsted inspection19% (normally 20%, cut because the inspection is old)in line
+0.01
Ofsted grade, 3.5 years old
Progress pupils make20%below
-0.16
DfE progress measure; 27 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%above
+0.09
results and attendance rising year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%in line
-0.01
2024/25; 171 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%well below
-0.13
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 27 pupils
What parents say0%no data

Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.

Questions parents ask

Is Quest Primary School a good school?

The figures are weak. Quest Primary School scores 22 out of 100. That is below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 31% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 10 to 46, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been getting better over the last five years.

What is Quest Primary School's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated Quest Primary School good at its last full inspection on 28 February 2023.

How good are Quest Primary School's SATs results?

In summer 2025, 44% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 4% went further and reached the higher level.

How many pupils does Quest Primary School have?

199 pupils aged 3 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 262 places, so it is 76% full.

Is Quest Primary School oversubscribed?

Probably not. 79 places were empty in 2024/25 (30% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.

What is attendance like at Quest Primary School?

Pupils were in school 95.1% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 14% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at Quest Primary School?

The average class had 19.6 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. No class had more than 30 pupils.

Does Quest Primary School have specialist SEND provision?

Yes. It has sen unit for autism, moderate learning difficulties, speech, language and communication. To get a place there, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
Farnborough Avenue, South Croydon, CR2 8HD
Telephone
020 8657 4722
Website
questprimary.org.uk
Headteacher
Miss Joanne Stawman
Type of school
Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
Phase
Primary school, ages 3-11, with nursery
Gender
Mixed
Multi-academy trust
The Collegiate Trust (9 schools)
Local authority
Croydon
Ward
Selsdon & Addington Village
Constituency
Croydon East
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
1 September 2018 (academy converter)
URN
146137 · LAESTAB 3063416 · UKPRN 10068446
Formerly
Gilbert Scott Primary School

Where these figures come from