Children can start primary school in the September after their fourth birthday. Applications must be made in the September after their third birthday. You have a legal obligation to ensure that your child receives education by the start of the term after they become five years old.

  In mid-September pick up a copy of the Croydon Primary Schools Brochure from any local primary school or download it from www.croydon.gov.uk.

  Read the brochure carefully as it contains all the information you need to apply.

  Find out about the schools; ask for brochures, visit their websites and read their Ofsted reports or school profiles online at http://schoolsfinder.direct.gov.uk

  It is very important that you actually visit the schools, contact them for dates and times of open days.

  Study the school’s admissions criteria published in the brochure. This explains how they decide which pupils will be offered places if they receive more applications than they have places available, these vary from school to school. If you can’t meet the criteria then you’re not likely to get a place.

  Complete either the local authority paper application form OR an online application at www.eadmissions.org.uk

  List the schools in the order you prefer them.

  If you are applying for a school outside the borough of Croydon you must include this school on your Croydon application form.  See Neighbouring Local Authorities for further details.

  Complete and return supplementary forms for all of the schools that require them, available from www.croydon.gov.uk

  Deadlines for supplementary forms and the local authority application form may be different.

  Ensure that your application forms are handed in by the deadlines (usually early/mid January)

You will be advised of the outcome of your application in the following April .  For more information click here

Remember…

You must apply for a place for primary education even if your child attends the nursery of your preferred primary school, as you  are not guaranteed a place at that school.

You must still apply even if you already have another child attending your preferred school.

You should apply for at least four schools, six if you can, to improve your chances of getting an offer at one you prefer.

You should also apply for a school in which you are likely to qualify for a place, even if it is not your first or second choice.

Putting the same school more than once will not raise your chances of being allocated that school.

Putting only one school will seriously limit your child’s chances of being allocated a school.

Applications for twins, triplets and other multiple births must be made separately and there is no guarantee that the children will be offered the same school.

You can request that the date your child is admitted to the school is deferred until the start of the spring term in January, (i.e. one term later) – see The Result of your Application

Croydon primary schools, including their contact details and websites

The school’s websites should contain their admissions policy, school brochure, special needs and disability policy, bullying policy, uniform policy and times of the school day.

Nearest Croydon Schools Map

Croydon non-community schools admission arrangements and supplementary forms

Croydon community schools admission arrangements

London Borough of Croydon Pan-London Co-ordinated Admission Schemes, Primary and Secondary 2011

Ofsted reports for Croydon primary schools  (Reports are displayed in date order)

School profiles and performance and value-added data for Croydon schools

Overcoming first day fears at primary school - Directgov

Helping your child to learn – Directgov