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Senior schools in Croydon

There are 18 independent senior schools in Croydon: 2 girls', 2 boys', 14 co-ed. The median day fee is £25,548 a year. An independent senior school teaches pupils from 11 or 13 to 16 or 18. The main entry points are 11+ (Year 7), 13+ (Year 9) and 16+ for sixth form.

Updated September 2026

Schools
18
Day fees
£6,404–£51,633 / year
Ages
3–19

Best-ranked senior schools in Croydon

By Houseroom Index score

  1. Trinity School
  2. Whitgift School
  3. Croydon High School
  4. Royal Russell School
  5. Al-Khair School

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Every senior school in Croydon

All 18 independent senior schools in Croydon, A to Z.

Senior schools near Croydon

Top-ranked senior schools in neighbouring areas.

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Choosing a private school in Croydon

Houseroom editorial team · Published 29 September 2026

Senior schools

Whitgift is a boys' school of about 1,500 pupils, with entry at 10+, 11+, 13+, 14+ and 16+. The 10+ and 11+ tests cover English, maths and reasoning, followed by an interview with senior staff for shortlisted boys. Day fees for 2026-27 are about £31,400 a year.

Trinity, at Shirley Park, is currently a boys' school with a co-educational sixth form that has admitted girls since 2011. From September 2027 girls join Year 6 and Year 7, and the school expects the whole school to be co-educational by 2031. For 2027 it plans 24 girls and 24 boys at 10+, and between 70 and 100 girls alongside about 100 boys at 11+. Assessment is computer-based plus written papers, followed by an academic interview. Fees are about £30,500 a year.

Croydon High is a girls' day school for ages 3 to 18, with main entry at Year 7, Year 9 and the sixth form. The Year 7 test is an adaptive online assessment, and the school says no special preparation is needed. Senior fees are about £24,600 to £25,500 a year, with compulsory lunch charged separately up to Year 10.

Royal Russell is co-educational from nursery to 18. Year 7 and Year 9 entrants sit online tests in English, maths and verbal and non-verbal reasoning, plus an interview and a group activity. Senior day fees are about £28,900 a year. Fidelis College is a smaller Catholic alternative, with senior fees of about £22,900 a year.

Many Croydon families also look just over the border. Caterham School, a co-educational day and boarding school with its own prep, and Sutton High, a GDST girls' school for ages 3 to 18, both appear on local prep schools' destination lists.

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Choosing a senior school in Croydon

11+, 13+ and 16+ entry

Most London senior schools admit at 11+, some at 13+ as well or instead, and nearly all take a smaller group at 16+. 11+ entry is usually a written exam or online test in the autumn or January of Year 6, followed by interview; 13+ places are often offered after a Year 6 pre-test.

What to compare

Compare GCSE and A-level results over several years, university destinations (including Oxbridge and medicine offers), the size of the sixth form, bursary and scholarship support, and the journey time. Results alone tell you about intake as much as teaching.

Senior schools in Croydon: common questions

What are the best senior schools in Croydon?
The highest-scoring senior schools in Croydon on the Houseroom Index are Trinity School, Whitgift School, Croydon High School, Royal Russell School and Al-Khair School. The index weighs exam results, destinations, inspection and value.
How many senior schools are there in Croydon?
Houseroom lists 18 independent senior schools in Croydon.
How much do senior schools in Croydon cost?
Day fees at senior schools in Croydon range from £6,404–£51,633 a year, with a median of £25,548. Fees include 20% VAT since January 2025. Lunches, uniform and trips are usually extra.
When should I register for a senior school?
Registration for 11+ entry usually closes in the autumn of Year 5 or Year 6, and for 13+ often in Year 5 ahead of Year 6 pre-tests. Deadlines vary by school, so check each school's admissions page.
What is the difference between 11+ and 13+ entry?
11+ entry is into Year 7, straight from primary or a prep that ends at Year 6. 13+ entry is into Year 9, usually from a prep that runs to Year 8, and is often decided by a pre-test in Year 6.