What did Ofsted judge Riddlesdown Collegiate's overall effectiveness to be?

Ofsted judged Riddlesdown Collegiate's overall effectiveness as Outstanding at its inspection in March 2023, on Ofsted's own scale.

How many pupils attend Riddlesdown Collegiate?

Riddlesdown Collegiate has 2,074 pupils on roll.

What ages does Riddlesdown Collegiate take?

Riddlesdown Collegiate admits pupils aged 11 to 19.

Where is Riddlesdown Collegiate located?

Riddlesdown Collegiate is located in Purley, CR8 1EX, Croydon.

How do I apply to Riddlesdown Collegiate?

Riddlesdown Collegiate is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.

How close do you need to live to get into Riddlesdown Collegiate?

On offer day for 2026-27 (Year 7), the furthest place offered at Riddlesdown Collegiate was 1.334 miles from the school. That is the distance the last place reached in one year, not a boundary and not a guarantee — it moves with the number of applicants.

How are Year 7 places decided at Riddlesdown Collegiate?

When Riddlesdown Collegiate has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked After Children — Students in the care of a local authority at the time of application and students who were looked after but ceased to be so because they were adopted or became subject to a child arrangements order or special guardianship order immediately after being looked after, including those who appear to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted. Must be supported by a letter from the relevant LA Children's Department and/or relevant documents; 2. Medical Reasons — Children whose parents provide medical evidence from a registered health professional that entry to Riddlesdown Collegiate rather than any other school or academy is essential. Considered by members of the Local Governing Committee on behalf of the admissions authority; 3. Children of staff at Riddlesdown Collegiate — Staff defined as someone employed by The Collegiate Trust at Riddlesdown Collegiate for two or more years at the time the application is made, or someone recruited to fill a vacant staff post at Riddlesdown Collegiate for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage, and 2 further criteria. The school offers 328 places at this entry point. Tie-break: Within Proximity, in the event of a tie priority is given to the child whose journey to school via public transport is the shortest distance.

What is the largest ethnic background at Riddlesdown Collegiate?

According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 42.2% of pupils at Riddlesdown Collegiate are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

Riddlesdown Collegiate: Ofsted, Results & Catchment 2026

How close did you need to live?

1.334miles

was the furthest place offered on offer day for 2026-27 (Year 7). That is how far the last place reached in ONE year — not a boundary, and not a guarantee. It moves with the number of applicants, so treat it as a guide rather than a line on a map.

Last distance offered at Riddlesdown Collegiate, year by year →

How places are decided at Riddlesdown Collegiate

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Looked After Children — Students in the care of a local authority at the time of application and students who were looked after but ceased to be so because they were adopted or became subject to a child arrangements order or special guardianship order immediately after being looked after, including those who appear to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted. Must be supported by a letter from the relevant LA Children's Department and/or relevant documents.
2Medical Reasons — Children whose parents provide medical evidence from a registered health professional that entry to Riddlesdown Collegiate rather than any other school or academy is essential. Considered by members of the Local Governing Committee on behalf of the admissions authority.
3Children of staff at Riddlesdown Collegiate — Staff defined as someone employed by The Collegiate Trust at Riddlesdown Collegiate for two or more years at the time the application is made, or someone recruited to fill a vacant staff post at Riddlesdown Collegiate for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage.
4Sibling — All blood, half, foster, step and adoptive brothers and sisters (not cousins) on roll at the date of admission of the younger sibling and living at the same home in the same family unit on a permanent basis. A sibling connection does not apply where the older sibling will be in the College VI (Years 12 and 13) unless that sibling previously attended Riddlesdown Collegiate in Year 11. If sibling applications take offers past the PAN, the tie-break is distance measured as for Proximity.
5Proximity — All remaining places allocated by distance measured in a straight line from the child's home address to the designated entrance of the school using a computerised measuring system (GIS) with NLPG reference points, nearest first. For separated parents, the home address is that of the parent receiving Child Benefit.

If two applications tie: Within Proximity, in the event of a tie priority is given to the child whose journey to school via public transport is the shortest distance.

The Collegiate Trust is the admission authority. Students referred under the Hard to Place protocol via the Fair Access Panel are admitted even if this exceeds the admission number.

Published by the admission authority. Meeting a criterion never guarantees a place — it sets the order places are offered in. Full detail, other entry points and previous years are on the Admissions tab.

Riddlesdown Collegiate: key facts

What did Ofsted judge Riddlesdown Collegiate's overall effectiveness to be?: Ofsted judged Riddlesdown Collegiate's overall effectiveness as Outstanding at its inspection in March 2023, on Ofsted's own scale.
How many pupils attend Riddlesdown Collegiate?: Riddlesdown Collegiate has 2,074 pupils on roll.
What ages does Riddlesdown Collegiate take?: Riddlesdown Collegiate admits pupils aged 11 to 19.
Where is Riddlesdown Collegiate located?: Riddlesdown Collegiate is located in Purley, CR8 1EX, Croydon.
How do I apply to Riddlesdown Collegiate?: Riddlesdown Collegiate is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.
How close do you need to live to get into Riddlesdown Collegiate?: On offer day for 2026-27 (Year 7), the furthest place offered at Riddlesdown Collegiate was 1.334 miles from the school. That is the distance the last place reached in one year, not a boundary and not a guarantee — it moves with the number of applicants.
How are Year 7 places decided at Riddlesdown Collegiate?: When Riddlesdown Collegiate has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked After Children — Students in the care of a local authority at the time of application and students who were looked after but ceased to be so because they were adopted or became subject to a child arrangements order or special guardianship order immediately after being looked after, including those who appear to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted. Must be supported by a letter from the relevant LA Children's Department and/or relevant documents; 2. Medical Reasons — Children whose parents provide medical evidence from a registered health professional that entry to Riddlesdown Collegiate rather than any other school or academy is essential. Considered by members of the Local Governing Committee on behalf of the admissions authority; 3. Children of staff at Riddlesdown Collegiate — Staff defined as someone employed by The Collegiate Trust at Riddlesdown Collegiate for two or more years at the time the application is made, or someone recruited to fill a vacant staff post at Riddlesdown Collegiate for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage, and 2 further criteria. The school offers 328 places at this entry point. Tie-break: Within Proximity, in the event of a tie priority is given to the child whose journey to school via public transport is the shortest distance.
What is the largest ethnic background at Riddlesdown Collegiate?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 42.2% of pupils at Riddlesdown Collegiate are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

League tables in Croydon Compare Croydon schools Best secondary schools in Croydon Outstanding schools in Croydon Sixth forms in Croydon Croydon hub All Croydon schools Schools on map Admissions checker Choosing sixth form guide Catchment areas guide What to ask on a visit

Same phase, ranked by distance and how closely they match.

Explore nearby

See every school within walking distance, ranked by distance and inspection grade.

Interested in this school?Register interest and we'll pass your details on if it joins School Atlas.Register interest

This school hasn't claimed its profile yet, so it can't receive enquiries here. Leave your details and we'll pass them on if the school joins School Atlas.

Nearby schools within 5 km

How close did you need to live?

1.334miles

Last distance offered at Riddlesdown Collegiate, year by year →

How places are decided at Riddlesdown Collegiate

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Looked After Children — Students in the care of a local authority at the time of application and students who were looked after but ceased to be so because they were adopted or became subject to a child arrangements order or special guardianship order immediately after being looked after, including those who appear to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted. Must be supported by a letter from the relevant LA Children's Department and/or relevant documents.
2Medical Reasons — Children whose parents provide medical evidence from a registered health professional that entry to Riddlesdown Collegiate rather than any other school or academy is essential. Considered by members of the Local Governing Committee on behalf of the admissions authority.
3Children of staff at Riddlesdown Collegiate — Staff defined as someone employed by The Collegiate Trust at Riddlesdown Collegiate for two or more years at the time the application is made, or someone recruited to fill a vacant staff post at Riddlesdown Collegiate for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage.
4Sibling — All blood, half, foster, step and adoptive brothers and sisters (not cousins) on roll at the date of admission of the younger sibling and living at the same home in the same family unit on a permanent basis. A sibling connection does not apply where the older sibling will be in the College VI (Years 12 and 13) unless that sibling previously attended Riddlesdown Collegiate in Year 11. If sibling applications take offers past the PAN, the tie-break is distance measured as for Proximity.
5Proximity — All remaining places allocated by distance measured in a straight line from the child's home address to the designated entrance of the school using a computerised measuring system (GIS) with NLPG reference points, nearest first. For separated parents, the home address is that of the parent receiving Child Benefit.

If two applications tie: Within Proximity, in the event of a tie priority is given to the child whose journey to school via public transport is the shortest distance.

The Collegiate Trust is the admission authority. Students referred under the Hard to Place protocol via the Fair Access Panel are admitted even if this exceeds the admission number.

Riddlesdown Collegiate: key facts

What did Ofsted judge Riddlesdown Collegiate's overall effectiveness to be?: Ofsted judged Riddlesdown Collegiate's overall effectiveness as Outstanding at its inspection in March 2023, on Ofsted's own scale.
How many pupils attend Riddlesdown Collegiate?: Riddlesdown Collegiate has 2,074 pupils on roll.
What ages does Riddlesdown Collegiate take?: Riddlesdown Collegiate admits pupils aged 11 to 19.
Where is Riddlesdown Collegiate located?: Riddlesdown Collegiate is located in Purley, CR8 1EX, Croydon.
How do I apply to Riddlesdown Collegiate?: Riddlesdown Collegiate is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.
How close do you need to live to get into Riddlesdown Collegiate?: On offer day for 2026-27 (Year 7), the furthest place offered at Riddlesdown Collegiate was 1.334 miles from the school. That is the distance the last place reached in one year, not a boundary and not a guarantee — it moves with the number of applicants.
How are Year 7 places decided at Riddlesdown Collegiate?: When Riddlesdown Collegiate has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked After Children — Students in the care of a local authority at the time of application and students who were looked after but ceased to be so because they were adopted or became subject to a child arrangements order or special guardianship order immediately after being looked after, including those who appear to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted. Must be supported by a letter from the relevant LA Children's Department and/or relevant documents; 2. Medical Reasons — Children whose parents provide medical evidence from a registered health professional that entry to Riddlesdown Collegiate rather than any other school or academy is essential. Considered by members of the Local Governing Committee on behalf of the admissions authority; 3. Children of staff at Riddlesdown Collegiate — Staff defined as someone employed by The Collegiate Trust at Riddlesdown Collegiate for two or more years at the time the application is made, or someone recruited to fill a vacant staff post at Riddlesdown Collegiate for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage, and 2 further criteria. The school offers 328 places at this entry point. Tie-break: Within Proximity, in the event of a tie priority is given to the child whose journey to school via public transport is the shortest distance.
What is the largest ethnic background at Riddlesdown Collegiate?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 42.2% of pupils at Riddlesdown Collegiate are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

Same phase, ranked by distance and how closely they match.

Explore nearby

See every school within walking distance, ranked by distance and inspection grade.

Riddlesdown Collegiate

How close did you need to live?

How places are decided at Riddlesdown Collegiate

Riddlesdown Collegiate: key facts

Similar schools nearby

Explore nearby

Riddlesdown Collegiate

Nearby schools within 5 km

How close did you need to live?

How places are decided at Riddlesdown Collegiate

Riddlesdown Collegiate: key facts

Similar schools nearby

Explore nearby

Nearby schools within 5 km