Croydon High School

From its beginnings with 88 pupils in 1874, Croydon High has kept girls' education central to its identity. Dorinda Neligan's foundation and the 1966 move to Selsdon are part of a story that now runs through the early years, senior school and sixth form. The tone is ambitious but not narrow: confidence, curiosity, kindness and a readiness to lead are given equal weight.

The senior curriculum ranges from sciences, humanities and enterprise technology to philosophy and ethics, music, drama, art, 3D design and physical education. French, German, Spanish and Latin add breadth in the earlier senior years. In the sixth form, the Neligan Programme sits beside a choice of 25 A levels and enrichment intended to help students become independent scholars.

School life also reaches well beyond lessons. Swimming, sport, performance, music, First Give, Amnesty Club and the student-led Astrogazers space-research project give pupils different ways to work with others and take responsibility. The Wellbeing Hub, Forest School and junior STEM classroom make the school's emphasis on confidence and curiosity tangible from the younger years onwards.

Senior entry uses entrance testing, while sixth-form applicants follow a separate assessment and interview route. Scholarships and bursaries are available alongside the main admissions process, so the relevant year group and entry stage matter when considering the school.