Forest Academy is a mainstream primary school in Croydon for children aged 3 to 11. In January 2026, 31 of its 180 pupils (17.2%) were getting SEN support and 6 (3.3%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 3–11
- 180 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Croydon.
17.2% get SEN support
31 of 180 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
3.3% have an EHC plan
6 of 180 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health15
- Speech, language and communication14
- Autism8
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 primary school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 3 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 180 (places for 656)
- Headteacher
- Rupinder Bansil (Principal)
- Part of
- Inspire Partnership Academy Trust
- Free school meals
- 60% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Croydon
- School reference (URN)
- 140113
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, February 2022
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in February 2022.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Bridle Road, Shirley, Croydon, CR0 8HQ
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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
- Beckmead Park Academy Special school · Ages 5–16 0.5 miles
- Orchard Park High School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.9 miles
- Wickham Park School Independent · Ages 5–19 1.1 miles
- Hawes Down Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.1 miles
Other mainstream schools
Questions about Forest Academy
How many pupils at Forest Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 31 of the 180 pupils (17.2%) were getting SEN support and 6 (3.3%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Forest Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (15 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (14 pupils) and autism (8 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Forest Academy?
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 Forest Academy?
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 Forest Academy?
You can ask for Forest Academy 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 Forest Academy 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 Orchard Park High School, about 0.9 miles away.
Where is Forest Academy?
Bridle Road, Shirley, Croydon, CR0 8HQ, 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.