Our 170-strong cast, crew and band took part in our sell-out Drama and Music senior school production of Oliver! on the 6th, 7th and 8th February. Thank you to the teachers, parents and those from our wider school community who came to watch and supported this production. Here some of our wonderful student cast and crew share their thoughts on being a part of it:

“I have really, really enjoyed doing this amazing experience and I am so grateful to have been given this role. I have always loved performing, whether it has been on a stage, outside or in my kitchen. This is my third whole school production and I am sure I will do many, many more. I really enjoyed getting to know the older girls. I love all my costumes, no matter how hot they were, and I loved my character, in general. I am so looking forward to doing the next show!”
Naomi T – The Artful Dodger

“It has been an absolute pleasure participating in Oliver! as my final musical at Croydon High. It was a joy meeting pupils in other year groups I haven’t necessarily spoken to before and working with them in a healthy and fun environment for the past couple of months. The whole school production never fails to unify the school community every year and make everyone feel welcome and valued. There is so much talent within Croydon High and the whole school musical is always an effective way of displaying it whether it be in the drama department, music department or art department. So much effort and time gets put into creating such a successful masterpiece like we have done this year and that is not only because of the students but teachers as well. ”
Fallon V – Nancy

“Being able to be part of the backstage crew again for Oliver! was so fun this year; the amount of work we had to put in in order to make the show amazing was totally worth it. Personally, this is my favourite show that I have been part of. Although this was my final Croydon High School production, I have made so many amazing memories and have had the opportunity to socialise and work with students in a range of different years that I wouldn’t usually talk to. This just shows how the Croydon High School productions bring people together that you wouldn’t typically hang out with and help to create friendships that will last for ages. I am so overjoyed that I was able to have a role in this fantastic production, and I can confidently say that this year’s show was the best of them all. I wish everyone who chooses to perform next year the best of luck, and thank you to all the teachers who made this become a reality!”
Brooke H – Stage Crew

“Being part of Oliver! as Widow Corney was such an unforgettable experience! The rehearsals were a mix of fun, laughter, and hard work, and I loved every minute of it. Getting into character was so much fun. Widow Corney is a quirky, sharp-tongued character, and I had so much fun bringing her to life on stage. I also had the chance to make new friends from different year groups, which made the whole experience even more special. It was amazing to see all the hard work come together in the final performance, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of something so memorable. Can’t wait for the next show!”
Gabrielle F – Widow Corney

“Since Year 7, I have always loved being a part of the school production, whether that has been in the band or the cast. This year I felt so lucky to have been given the task by Mrs Morgan-Collins to choreograph a couple of dance numbers to a variety of groups of students. I loved forming friendships with girls across all year groups and worked really hard to make the dances look good. Although the rehearsals were sometimes tough work and tiring, I enjoyed every aspect of it and it was incredible seeing everything come together. It was amazing to be able to watch the show every night from the band, the cast were all incredible and I am so grateful for the opportunities I was given. Thank you so much to all the teachers that made Oliver! such a success, and I cannot wait for next year!”
Darcie W – Band and Choreographer

Here are some quotes from the Junior School who came to see the show:

“It was so good; it was like watching a real theatre.”
Janae, Year 5

“I thought it was amazing. It felt like I was watching a West End show!”
Lana, Year 5

“I was able to see all their hard work immediately.”
Arisa, Year 6

“Amazing Just Amazing. 5 stars!”
Maggie, Year 6

Mrs Morgan-Collins
Head of Drama

(Photos: Splaat Photography)

On Friday 7 February, the Junior School had great fun supporting NSPCC’s Number Day. Girls and staff took part in Dress up for Digits to raise money for the NSPCC. We had numbers on our clothes, numbers on shoes, numbers even plaited into hair! Some girls came dressed as Times Tables Rock Stars complete with their electric guitar and there were a lot of dominoes walking around the school!

Our day started with a special Number Day assembly, during which we learnt about the work of the NSPCC before sharing the book ‘How Many Jelly Beans?’ which explores numbers up to one million. Class teachers then planned some exciting jellybean themed Maths lessons. Nursery were counting jelly beans and making patterns, Year 2 used jelly bean arrays to explore multiplication and division facts, while Year 4 were collecting, interpreting and presenting data on favourite jelly bean flavours.

A highlight of the day was the guess how many jellybeans challenge, with every pupil from Nursery to Year 6 having the chance to estimate the number of jelly beans in a jar. Congratulations to Rhea in 2R whose estimate of 1200 was closest to the actual total of 1174.

KS2 classes also took part in NSPCC Rocks on Times Tables Rock Stars. Well done to 5M who were our winning class!
Thank you for all of your donations. We raised £256.79 for the NSPCC and had a lot of fun doing so.

Mrs Anna Johnson
Year 4 Class Teacher
Head of Junior School Maths

Reception had a magical time celebrating our Traditional Tales theme with a special dress-up day! To mark the end of our topic, everyone was invited to come dressed as their favourite characters from classic tales. Throughout the day, the girls embraced their characters by introducing themselves, discussing the story, and why they had chosen that character. It was wonderful to see them so engaged as they brought the stories to life! In addition to their costumes, the pupils spent time drawing and writing about their characters, showcasing their creativity and understanding of the tales. It was a day filled with fun, excitement, and lots of learning. We hope the children had as much fun as we did!

Mrs Amanda-Jane D’Aranjo
Reception Class Teacher
Early Years Lead

On Monday, 10th February, Year 7 pupils embarked on an exciting geography trip to Kew Gardens, bringing their classroom learning on global ecosystems to life. Braving the cold, pupils explored a range of climate zones and biomes, gaining a deeper understanding of how plants adapt to their environments and how ecosystems function.

Discovering the Palm House: A Tropical Rainforest Experience

The main attraction of the day was the Palm House, an awe-inspiring tropical rainforest biome filled with towering trees, lush foliage, and high humidity. As pupils stepped inside, they immediately felt the dramatic contrast in climate—a welcome escape from the chilly outdoor temperatures! The ecosystems workshop introduced pupils to key concepts such as abiotic factors, plant adaptations, and ecosystem services. They also had the chance to develop fieldwork skills, measuring light levels and soil moisture—techniques essential for geographers studying the natural world.

One of the highlights was viewing the rainforest from different perspectives—both at ground level and from a raised platform above the canopy. This gave students a unique bird’s-eye view of the biome, helping them understand the different layers of the rainforest and how each plays a vital role in the ecosystem.

Exploring Beyond the Rainforest

The visit also took students beyond the tropical biome to explore:

• The Temperate House – the world’s largest Victorian glasshouse, home to plants from temperate regions across the globe.
• The Marianne North Gallery – an inspiring collection of botanical art showcasing plant species from around the world.
• The Hive – a striking installation that mimics the sounds and vibrations of a real beehive, highlighting the importance of pollinators.
• The Treetop Walkway (for some groups) – an exhilarating chance to walk high above the ground and see trees from a new perspective (weather permitting).

Despite the chilly weather, pupils represented the school brilliantly and fully embraced this outdoor learning experience. The cold made them appreciate the warmth and humidity of the Palm House even more, reinforcing their understanding of climatic differences between biomes.

A Pupils’s Perspective

“It was an amazing experience seeing all the different biomes and how plants survive and adapt to their environments. The workshop was really interesting—I learned how to measure sunlight and tell if the soil is moist or dry. It was also really cool to see the biomes from different views, both from the ground and from above. Thank you to all the Kew staff and everyone who came with us. I would definitely go again!”
— Amelia L, 7A

Bringing Geography to Life

This trip was a fantastic opportunity for Year 7 pupils to apply their learning outside the classroom and experience geography in action. By exploring real-world ecosystems, they deepened their understanding of biomes, climate adaptation, and conservation—key themes in their geography curriculum.

A huge thank you to all the staff and pupils who made the day such a success. We look forward to more opportunities for experiential learning in the future!

Mr Kenta Watson
Head of Geography

Georgie was a Roundhouse Poetry Slam finalist, before joining the Roundhouse Poetry Collective and subsequently spent a year as Roundhouse Resident Artist. She has performed in theatres, at festivals and on radio stations all over the UK, and is often praised for her warmth, humour and wit.

She began by joining our A Level English Literature and English Language students, where she performed some of her most popular poems, and shared her experiences as a poet, alongside her advice on writing as a career. 

Georgie then led our Year 7 pupils in a series of poetry rehearsal workshops, where she introduced them to confidence-boosting warm up activities and taught them insider ‘tricks of the trade’ when preparing for public speaking or performance. This was excellent preparation for the pupils’ own poetry evening ‘Word of Mouth’, which takes place this Thursday evening. Each pupil group performed their set pieces and received feedback and encouragement from Georgie.

Students from across the key stages also had the opportunity to meet her; we held an informal ‘meet & greet’ session in the LRC over lunch, where Georgie performed more of her work and responded to a range of questions. Pupils asked her about her inspiration, how to manage the challenges of social media as a high-profile poet, and how to overcome writer’s block!

The day was a fantastic success and we are looking forward to seeing our Year 7 pupils perform in their upcoming poetry performance evening!

The English Department

To mark 150 years of Croydon High School, the Art and Alumnae Relations Departments, along with a dedicated group of pupils, have embarked on a huge, collaborative project—the creation of a stunning mural along J Corridor. This artwork will feature 150 Croydon High School alumnae, inspired by Work in Progress by Jann Haworth and Liberty Blake, displayed at the National Portrait Gallery.

Since September, this project has required hours of creativity, dedication, and teamwork. Across multiple clubs, pupils have been mastering a variety of techniques, including embroidery, laser cutting, drawing, Photoshop, and Graffiti. Their hard work will result in an incredible collection of artwork that will form a lasting tribute to the school’s history and legacy.
The first milestone will be a soft launch in early March, where the first panel will be unveiled to the Duchess of Gloucester. The finished mural will be revealed in July.

Take a look at our pupils in action, along with the vibrant colour palette we are using!

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If you’d like to be part of this exciting project, we’d love to have you—just speak to a member of the Art Department to get involved.

The Art Department

We are delighted to share the news that Poppy K (Year 11) has won the GDST Public Speaking semi-final, held at Blackheath, triumphing over competitors from Sutton, Sydenham, and Blackheath. Delivering a confident and thought-provoking speech on Social Media: The Black Hole, Poppy captivated the judges and Y10 audience alike with her poise, passion, and persuasive arguments.

Not only was her speech insightful, but her ability to handle challenging questions with ease really set her apart. She demonstrated intellect, depth of knowledge, and a natural curiosity, impressing the judges with her thoughtful and articulate responses. Their praise highlighted the extent of her research and her ability to think critically under pressure.

Now, Poppy advances to the grand finale at Notting Hill & Ealing GDST, where she will represent our school on an even bigger stage. Win or lose, her journey so far has been a testament to her hard work, dedication, and love of learning. We wish her the very best as she takes on this final challenge—whatever happens next, she has already made us incredibly proud!

Ms Kitty Howie
Head of Academic Scholars
Second in Charge of English
10H Form Tutor

Bronze medal winners!

Delighted that our Under 9 gymnastics team finished 3rd and won bronze medals at the Surrey Floor and Vault Championships! A fantastic performance from them all!

Rika and Poppy experience life as elite athletes

What an unbelievable opprtunity for Year 11 pupils, Rika H and Poppy S, who were lucky enough to travel to Amsterdam with Under Armour. They were selected in the top 10 of thousands of athletes! Rika and Poppy took part in a variety of fitness tests and got to experience life as an elite athlete at a top high-performance centre! Well done girls, you are inspirational!

London Youth Games Finals, here we come!

We are the Year 7 Sportshall Athletics Champions – the London Youth Games Finals are in March!

Year 4-6 Swimming Champions!

A fantastic result for our Year 4-6 swimming team who won the Croydon Schools’ Swimming Championships.

Special mention to the following pupils who became individual Croydon champions:

• Sadie – Year 4 Freestyle
• Audrey – Year 6 Backstroke and Open Butterfly
• Emiola – Year 6 Freestyle
• Lana – Year 5 Breaststroke
• Belle – Year 5 Freestyle
• Sara – Year 4 Breastroke
• Nourah – Year 4 Backstroke
• Freestyle Relay
• Medley Relay

On Sunday, 6th April 2025, Senior and Junior school staff from Croydon High will be taking on the challenge of the Brighton Marathon. Their goal is to raise funds for the school’s 150 Anniversary nominated charity, UNICEF, which aims to provide education, healthcare, and emergency relief to children worldwide.

Together, our inspirational staff are aiming to commit to running at least 150 km, collectively, to celebrate our school’s 150th birthday this year!

With a mix of runners tackling either the 10k race or the Brighton Marathon (42 km), our staff team is coming together to make every step count for a great cause with the following staff having already committed to the challenge.

Marathon Runners: Mr Flower and Mrs Tooke
10k Runners: Mrs Cotton, Mrs Johnson, Ms Thomas, Ms Fenwick, Mrs Smith, Mr Coley, Ms James, Mrs Wood, Mr Taylor, Ms Yam, Mrs Murray, Mr Watson

As always, the power of our school community will make all the difference, and the staff would love to receive your support to help them reach their fundraising goal.

How you can help
Please consider supporting our team by donating to this worthy cause, which you can do through this page.

Donate today

Croydon High School
150 Poetry Competition

This year is a very special one in Croydon High’s history as we celebrate the school’s 150th anniversary. We would like you to help us put that into words. We are looking for budding poets and creative writers in the Junior and Senior School to tell us what they feel is special about Croydon High – past, present or future.

You may be inspired to write about our history and what it means to us today.

You may wish to celebrate our commitment to creating opportunities for young women over the last 150 years.

You may want to focus on what it means to be part of our community or on what you believe the future holds for Croydon High. You may think about our values; Aspirational. Empowering, Proud and Kind or our school motto; May her character and talents inspire others.

Your poem could become part of the history of the school. Imagine, when future generations mark significant anniversaries, it will be re-read in order to get a feeling of what Croydon High represented in 2025. If you would like to research any aspect of the history of the school, you might want to explore our digital archives, here on the website. Express your thoughts in poetry and let’s celebrate Croydon High!

Closing date: 24/02/2025

Senior School submission via Google Classroom: 5kzirf4
Junior School submission: Please write your poem on paper and hand in to Mrs Monaghan.

Join us for refreshments, with a talk welcome from the Head, Ms Davies, and a personalised tour with our pupil ambassadors. There will also be the opportunity to speak to the Admissions Team.

Places are limited, so if you and your daughter would like to join us, please register for one of the dates below:

27 February 2025

25 March 2025

Your daughter will embark on an exciting day as we welcome her to explore the exceptional opportunities awaiting in Year 3. She will join us for a range of activities designed to spark curiosity and independence.

Discover how our challenging yet supportive environment inspires a love of learning and builds confidence at this pivotal stage in your daughter’s development.

Join us from 2.45pm for refreshments where you will have the opportunity to speak to members of the team.

Places for this event are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Book your place today

Join us for our Buzzing 4 Reception event, a morning of fun activities and insightful discussions with other parents and our highly experienced Early Years team.

Discover our early years setting, where your daughter will experience a nurturing and supportive environment, setting the foundation for a unique and challenging educational journey full of opportunity and extensive enrichment.

Places are limited and are offered on a first come first served basis.

Book your place today

At Croydon High School our girls are confident, compassionate, engaged and ambitious – they are always ready to tell you why they love their school.

Visit our Junior School and take a look at our fantastic facilities, and learn about our school from teachers and pupils.

Our Junior School Open Morning will take place 9.15am – 11am and include a talk from the Junior Leadership Team and an opportunity to tour the site.

If you wish to come to this open morning, please register your place today.

Book your place today