Paxton Academy Sports And Science

Paxton Academy Sports And Science at a glance

Located in Thornton Heath, Croydon, Paxton Academy Sports And Science is a primary school, classified by the DfE as a free school. The school educates roughly 275 pupils aged 2 to 11. Ofsted judged the school to be 'Good' at its most recent inspection. 87% of its pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of Key Stage 2, well above the national average (national figure: 61%). The proportion reaching the expected standard has risen by 29.0 percentage points year on year. On our composite score, which combines the DfE attainment measures above, this places it among the top 11% of primary schools in England.

Pupils achieved an average scaled score of 109 in reading and 105 in maths (national averages are about 105 and 104). 13% reached the higher standard across all three subjects (around 8% do so nationally). Getting a place is straightforward: for the September 2026 intake every family who made Paxton Academy Sports And Science their first choice was offered one of its 58 Reception places. In 2025 the furthest child offered a place lived 1.40 miles from the school in a straight line, according to the council's published allocation figures; the distance changes every year with demand. Overall pupil absence was 6.8%. There are about 17.2 pupils per teacher. The school serves a community with above-average levels of disadvantage: about 55% of pupils have been eligible for free school meals in the last six years, compared with roughly 24% nationally — useful context when reading the results above. When comparing schools, it is still worth visiting in person to see whether the atmosphere and approach suit your child. This overview is generated automatically from the latest published DfE performance tables and Ofsted data; figures are rounded, and you can check the originals via the official links above.