Addington Valley Academy
Fieldway, Croydon, CR0 9AZOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Addington Valley Academy is a special school in Croydon for ages 2 to 19. It is one of the 153 schools in Croydon. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in January 2023.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 25 January 2023, report published 14 March 2023
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Outstanding
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 25 January 2023
Pupils are keen to get to school each day. Leaders ensure that pupils have access to high-quality experiences. Staff understand pupils well so that they can meet their individual needs. They are kind and caring and have high expectations. They encourage pupils to lead a happy and independent life. The school is a calm and orderly environment. Staff manage pupils' behaviour exceptionally well. Parents and carers appreciated the rewards their children achieved for good work and behaviour. Staff work closely with parents, such as sharing pupils' 'wow' moments with them. Bullying is not tolerated here, and staff are vigilant. If pupils have any concerns, they are confident to communicate these to any adult, who will deal with them seriously. Leaders provide pupils with excellent resources to help them to develop. For example, pupils enjoyed using the food technology space to develop their cooking skills. Older pupils access the school's gym and take part in sporting activities such as football and basketball. Leaders increase pupils' opportunities to explore the local area. For example, some pupils go horse riding, while others use a local swimming pool. Pupils go on forest walks and have regular visits to the local area.
What the school should improve
- Leaders do not ensure that all staff are confident to teach phonics to pupils who are ready to learn phonics. This limits these pupils' ability to start to segment and blend sounds. Leaders must ensure that all staff are trained in phonics so that they can give pupils effective opportunities to build and improve their reading fluency.
- Leaders do not ensure that all pupils in the secondary phase have a carefully planned careers programme. This limits some pupils' understanding of their future options. Leaders should ensure that they provide all secondary-age pupils with information about education and careers opportunities based on their individual needs in the secondary phase.
Pupil numbers and mix
140 pupils on roll, with places for 150
Schools near Addington Valley Academy
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Gates School | 1 mile | Ofsted judgements: Outstanding | 0% met the expected standard |
| Beckmead Park Academy | 1 mile | Ofsted judgements: Good | Attainment 8: 10.3 |
| Glebe School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Outstanding | Attainment 8: 6.7 |
| Oak Bridge School | 2 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
| Baston House School | 2 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 5.8 |
School details
- School type
- Free schools special
- Sector
- Free school
- Trust
- ORCHARD HILL COLLEGE ACADEMY TRUST
- Age range
- 2 to 19
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Mr John Reilly
- Phone
- 02045112949
- Address
- Fieldway, Croydon, CR0 9AZ
- Local authority
- Croydon
- URN
- 147874
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.