Norbury High School for Girls is a mainstream secondary school in Thornton Heath, Croydon, for girls aged 11 to 19. In January 2026, 166 of its 1,082 pupils (15.3%) were getting SEN support and 19 (1.8%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–19
- 1,082 pupils
- Girls only
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Croydon.
15.3% get SEN support
166 of 1,082 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
1.8% have an EHC plan
19 of 1,082 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health36
- Speech, language and communication34
- Moderate learning difficulty20
- Autism18
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia17
- Hearing impairment7
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 11 to 19
- Boys and girls
- Girls only
- Pupils
- 1,082 (places for 1,370)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Markieu Hayden
- Part of
- Wandle Learning Trust
- Free school meals
- 32.8% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Croydon
- School reference (URN)
- 137754
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Croydon council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Good, June 2013; school remains Good (March 2022)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in June 2013. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, March 2022).
Contact and getting there
Kensington Avenue, Thornton Heath, CR7 8BT
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Kensington Avenue Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 0.0 miles
- Norbury Manor Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.7 miles
- Priory School Special school · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Good 1.0 mile
- Bensham Manor School Special school · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.2 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St James the Great RC Primary and Nursery School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 10.1%, EHC plans 3.8% 0.4 miles
- St Cyprian's Greek Orthodox Primary Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 25.5%, EHC plans 4.2% 0.5 miles
- Downsview Primary and Nursery School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 13.7%, EHC plans 0.6% 0.5 miles
Questions about Norbury High School for Girls
How many pupils at Norbury High School for Girls have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 166 of the 1,082 pupils (15.3%) were getting SEN support and 19 (1.8%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Norbury High School for Girls?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (36 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (34 pupils) and moderate learning difficulties (20 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Norbury High School for Girls?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Norbury High School for Girls?
Through Croydon council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Norbury High School for Girls?
You can ask for Norbury High School for Girls to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Norbury High School for Girls have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Kensington Avenue Primary School, about 0.0 miles away.
Where is Norbury High School for Girls?
Kensington Avenue, Thornton Heath, CR7 8BT, in Croydon.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.