Grammar schools in Croydon
There are no grammar schools in Croydon.
Grammar schools are state secondaries that select by ability, usually through an 11+ test. Only 46 of the 226 local authorities in the UK still have any — Croydon is one of the majority that does not, so local state secondaries admit without a selective test.
The nearest is Wilson's School, about 1.9 miles away in Sutton. Nearest is not the whole answer, though: these schools rank children by test score, and most put children living in their own area first.
Could a child from Croydon get a place?
Passing the test is not enough. These schools rank children by test score, not by distance from home. Most put children living in a set area first, so from Croydon the question is whether your home is inside it.
| School | Intake | How places are decided, 2027 entry | Croydon postcodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonsuch High School for Girls | Girls | 85 of the 210 places go to the highest scorers wherever they live. Most of the rest go by score to girls living within 5.25 km of the school. (school's policy) | none within 5.25 km |
From each school's own admission arrangements for September 2027 entry. Priority groups such as looked-after children and children on Pupil Premium come before these rules. The postcode share uses ONS postcode centres and straight-line distance, so it counts postcodes, not households; a home near the edge of an area should be checked with the school.
Key dates
- 31 October 2026: deadline to apply for a secondary place, through Croydon Council even for schools in another council
Each school or group of schools sets its own test, with a registration window months before the test itself, and parents register their child directly.
Nearest grammar schools to Croydon
Straight-line distance from the centre of Croydon — not a travel time.
| School | Area | Distance | Intake | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilson's School | Wallington | 1.9 miles | Boys | Outstanding |
| Wallington County Grammar School | Wallington | 2.6 miles | Boys | Outstanding |
| Wallington High School for Girls | Wallington | 3.1 miles | Girls | Not judged |
| Sutton Grammar School | Sutton | 4.4 miles | Boys | Good |
| Nonsuch High School for Girls | Sutton | 6.0 miles | Girls | — |
| Newstead Wood School | Orpington | 7.0 miles | Girls | Outstanding |
Published admissions priorities
These are extracts from school-specific arrangements for the entry years shown, in priority order. They are not the full policy or a prediction of an offer. Check the linked arrangement for test eligibility, deadlines and all remaining priorities.
Wilson's School — 2026 entry
- Looked after and previously looked after children, in score order (published source)
- 14 places for boys eligible for free school meals, in score order (published source)
- 9 places for boys above the benchmark in the Sport Aptitude Test, in order of that test (published source)
Wallington County Grammar School — 2026 entry
- Looked after and previously looked after children who reach the qualifying standard (published source)
- Sons of permanent staff employed at the school for two or more consecutive years (published source)
- Places in rank order of combined SET and second-stage score — up to 110 places for priorities 1 to 3 (published source)
Wallington High School for Girls — 2026 entry
- Looked after and previously looked after children who reach the qualifying standard (published source)
- 100 places in order of entrance-test score, wherever the girl lives (published source)
- Up to 35 places for girls eligible for the Pupil Premium who reach the pass mark — or score up to 20% below it — in score order, wherever they live (published source)
Sutton Grammar School — 2026 entry
- Looked after and previously looked after children who reach the qualifying standard (published source)
- Sons of staff employed at the school on a permanent contract for at least two years (published source)
- Up to 10 places for boys eligible for the Pupil Premium living in SM1–7, KT4, KT17, CR0 4 or CR4 — in order of combined SET and second-stage score (published source)
Nonsuch High School for Girls — 2026 entry
- Looked after and previously looked after children who reach the qualifying standard (published source)
- 85 places in order of entrance-test score, wherever the girl lives (published source)
- Up to 35 places for girls eligible for the Pupil Premium who reach the pass mark — or score up to 20% below it — in score order, wherever they live (published source)
Newstead Wood School — 2026 entry
- Looked After/Previously Looked After Children at/above the required standard (published source)
- Girls within a 9-mile radius of the school in receipt of Pupil Premium/Service Premium, at/above the required standard (published source)
- Girls within the 9-mile radius, plus staff children (≥2 years employed) living outside it, ranked by score (published source)
Schools in Croydon
Croydon has 143 open schools. Browse all Croydon schools with Ofsted ratings, catchment areas and admission criteria, or see them on the map.
Have a specific question about admissions, scores or dates?
Ask SchoolsGPT