A New Special Free School for Croydon

Orchard Hill College Academy Trust is honoured to be the successful trust to open a new Croydon Special Free School. We are in the pre-opening stage to open the school in September 2020, subject to the legal process required to open a new school. This is a significant opportunity for the Trust and the London Borough of Croydon to provide additional places in the area for children and young people with autism and learning difficulties. Our provision will cater for up to 150 children and young people aged 2 – 19 from within the London Borough of Croydon. Our school will be an ambitious and inclusive school based in New Addington, Croydon.

Orchard Hill College Academy Trust has significant experience of providing a rich and stimulating curriculum experience for children and young people and equip them with the skills and resilience to progress through school and into further and higher education and employment so that they can reach their potential and be creative and valued members of the local community.

As a free school, the Croydon special school will be a brand new Academy school; directly funded by central government and independent of Local Authority control. Like other free schools, Addington Valley Academy the Croydon has a responsibility to expand the educational offer locally, to promote high quality inclusivity and to address local social issues. We will work closely with the London Borough of Croydon, the National Autistic Society Resource Centre (Croydon), Parents in Partnership and parents themselves to ensure our provision reflects local needs and circumstances.