What Croydon High School GDST does

Croydon High School GDST is an independent girls' day school located in South Croydon, South London, serving pupils aged 3-18 across Nursery, Junior, Senior, and Sixth Form phases. Founded in 1874, the school is one of 25 schools operating under the Girls' Day School Trust (GDST), the UK's largest network of independent girls' schools. The school employs 73 staff and delivers the full UK national curriculum through to IGCSE and A Level, with reported outcomes of 55% of A Level entries at A*-A and 31% of GCSE entries at Grade 9.

The school's core product is a fee-paying independent education, with the curriculum delivered through classroom instruction supplemented by a defined digital infrastructure. The technology stack includes the Firefly learning management system for content delivery and parent communication, ParentPay for fee and trip payment processing, Applicaa for admissions and parental engagement workflows, and BBC Micro:bit hardware used in STEM teaching. Wraparound care (before- and after-school provision) and holiday activity programmes extend the core offering. The school does not develop proprietary software; all platforms referenced are third-party SaaS products.

Revenue is generated primarily through tuition fees, with supplementary income from facility hire, wraparound care services, and a bursary/means-tested admissions programme. As a non-profit charitable institution operating within the GDST trust structure, the school reinvests surplus into facilities, teaching, and bursaries rather than distributing profit. The customer base is individual parents/guardians of school-age girls, predominantly drawn from the South London and Surrey catchment, with a stated commitment to widening access via the bursary scheme.

Name

Croydon High School GDST

Legal name

Girls' Day School Trust trading as Croydon High School

Website

https://croydonhigh.gdst.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1874

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Croydon High School GDST is an independent girls' day school in South Croydon, UK, serving pupils aged 3-18 from Nursery through Sixth Form as one of 25 schools in the Girls' Day School Trust network, founded in 1874.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Services (611), Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Single-Sex (Boys/Girls) Private Schools (EDAJABAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Preschool Programs within Private K–12 Schools (EDACABAM), School-Age Wraparound Childcare Centers (Holiday/Break Care) (EDACAAAL)

Keywords

• Independent girls education
• K-12 private schooling
• Sixth Form A Levels
• GCSE secondary education
• Bursary scholarship programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Selsdon, South Croydon

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Primary revenue stream from termly/school fee payments from enrolled students across Nursery, Junior, Senior, and Sixth Form levels. Fee amounts are published on the school website and updated annually.
2. Facility Hire: External lettings of school facilities including Large Hall, Small Hall, Drama Studio, Lecture Theatre, Classrooms, Music Recital Room, Sports Pavilion, sports facilities (floodlit AstroTurf, netball/tennis courts, fitness suite, sports hall, gym, dance studio), and birthday party venues through Croydon Sports Club.
3. Wraparound Care Services: Before and after school care including Breakfast Club (7:15-8:15am) and after school care until 6:00pm for Junior School pupils, offered as The Ivy Club.
4. Bursary Programme: Financial assistance programme funded by charitable donations, legacies, and GDST contributions, providing up to 100% tuition fee coverage for eligible students.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Croydon High School GDST provides independent day education for girls aged 3-18, structured across four phases: Nursery (ages 3-4), Junior School (ages 4-11), Senior School (ages 11-16), and Sixth Form (ages 16-18). The school delivers academic curricula including GCSEs and A Levels, supported by extensive co-curricular programmes in sports, arts, music, and drama, plus wraparound childcare (The Ivy Club) and facility hire services. Financial assistance through bursaries and scholarships supports access for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Product overview

Croydon High School GDST is an independent girls' school offering a unified educational journey from Nursery (age 3) through Sixth Form (age 18), structured into four distinct phases: Nursery, Junior School, Senior School, and Sixth Form. The school provides academic education alongside extensive co-curricular programmes, childcare services (The Ivy Club wraparound care), and sports facilities (Croydon High Sports Club). Financial support is available through bursary and scholarship programmes. The school maintains an active alumnae network (The Ivy Link) and partners with the Girls' Day School Trust (GDST) network of schools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Ivy Link: Croydon High School's alumnae association connecting former pupils and staff
• The Ivy Club

Products and services

• Nursery Early years education for girls aged 3-4 years, providing a foundation for learning in a nurturing environment with Forest School programme, EYFS curriculum, and pastoral care designed for very young learners.
• Junior School Primary education for girls aged 4-11 years (Reception through Year 6), offering a comprehensive curriculum with co-curricular activities, specialist teaching, and preparation for senior school transition.
• Senior School Secondary education for girls aged 11-16 years (Years 7-11), preparing students for GCSE examinations with diverse subject choices, leadership development, and Oxbridge pathway programme.
• Sixth Form Post-GCSE education for girls aged 16-18 years, offering A Level qualifications with personalised learning, enrichment programmes, and university preparation support including Oxbridge pathway.
• The Ivy Club (Wraparound Care) Before and after school childcare provision for Junior School pupils from Nursery to Year 6, including Breakfast Club (7:15-8:15am) and after school care until 6pm.
• Croydon High Sports Club External sports facility hire including floodlit AstroTurf, netball and tennis courts, fitness suite, multi-purpose sports hall, gym, dance studio, and coffee bar. Also manages children's birthday parties.
• Main School Facilities Hire Hire of school venues outside school hours including Large Hall, Small Hall, Drama Studio, Lecture Theatre, Classrooms, Music Recital Room, and Sports Pavilion for community groups, dramatic societies, and organisations.
• Pathways Mentoring Programme Mentoring programme combining experienced mentors with tutor teams to help bridge the gap between joining Sixth Form and moving on to university or working life.
• Oxbridge Programme Structured support for pupils interested in applying to Oxford or Cambridge, starting in Year 9 with university visits, practice interviews, and pre-test preparation.
• Bursary Programme Bursary awards for bright girls from financially disadvantaged circumstances, available at entry in Year 7 and Lower Sixth, worth up to 100% of tuition fees based on means-tested financial criteria.
• The Ivy Link Alumnae Network Croydon High School's alumnae association linking 4,500+ former pupils and staff together, providing networking opportunities, mentoring, and ongoing community connection.
• Emma Pattison Limitless Learning Scholarship Fund Scholarship fund established to nurture and support academic aspirations of inspiring young women joining the Sixth Form at Croydon High, honouring Emma Pattison's legacy of empowering and supporting girls' futures.

Quantifiable outcome

• 55% A*-A grades at A Level 2025
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• The Rowdown FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking partnership with the Rowdown Foundation to help children from New Addington area fulfill their potential through the 'Inspire to Aspire' programme. Croydon High provides specialist tuition over a ten week period focusing on English, Mathematics and Verbal Reasoning to help pupils pass 11+ level entrance exams. School also commits to providing at least one Rowdown Foundation Bursary for entry to Croydon High in Year 7.
• National Council for Women of Great Britain (NCW)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCroydon High School is the NCYW's flagship school for South England and for the last six years has organized and hosted a major annual conference addressing topics of concern for young women. Conferences have covered gender non-conformity (2018) and Humanising Homelessness (2019), with support from GIRES.
• Abbeyfield Sanderstead Society Neighbourhood CareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership inviting elderly members of local neighbourhood care groups to school events including dress rehearsals for school productions (Joseph, Hairspray, Guys and Dolls). Around 75 VIP guests attend each event with tea and refreshments.
• Greenvale Primary SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal primary school that uses Croydon High's swimming pool on a regular basis as part of community facility sharing arrangements.
• Selsdon Primary SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal primary school that has used Croydon High's Senior Hall for Year 6 production performances as part of community outreach.
• Whitgift SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual charity netball match between Croydon High Sixth Form pupils and Whitgift School (neighbouring boys' school). Match raised funds for charity while strengthening community connections.
• The Rowland Brothers FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable foundation benefiting from Year 6 pupil Evie's fundraising during her reign as May Queen, raising £4,000 for The Rowland Brothers Foundation to support children and adults needing professional bereavement counselling.
• Camp BeaumontminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHoliday camp provider offering May half-term camps at Croydon High School facilities with exclusive discount code CHS26 for school community.
• GIRES (Gender Identity Research and Education Society)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported NCW conference on gender non-conformity by providing expertise on improving the environment in which gender non-conforming people live.
• London School of Economics (LSE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted GDST LEAD Showcase Event where Lower Sixth pupils from GDST schools across the country pitched business ideas and adverts, with keynote from Jas Schembri-Stothart, co-founder of luna.
• Theatre CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional theatre company that performed touring production 'My Brother's A Genius' for Year 9 and Year 10 GCSE Drama pupils, followed by Q&A session with industry professionals.
• Bowles Rocks Outdoor CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOutdoor education centre on Kent and East Sussex border providing Year 5 residential trip with activities including rock climbing, skiing/sledging, kayaking, team building, archery, and orienteering.
• PGL Windmill HillminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPGL (Provider of Group Activities) centre for Year 6 residential trip with activities including raft building, wall climbing, giant swing, archery, orienteering, and problem-solving challenges.
• Butser Ancient FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiving history attraction where Year 3 pupils explored Anglo-Saxon, Celtic, and Roman history through copper jewellery making, building exploration, wool spinning, and archaeological excavation.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• North London Collegiate School: Top-tier UK independent girls' school offering ages 4-18. Comparable in single-sex model, strong Oxbridge and Russell Group progression, and premium fee positioning in the UK market.
• City of London School for Girls: Highly selective independent girls' school in central London for ages 7-18. Comparable in academic outcomes, university placement, and premium London independent school positioning.
• James Allen's Girls' School (JAGS): Leading independent girls' school in South London (Dulwich) serving ages 4-18. Comparable in single-sex girls' premium positioning, strong academic outcomes, and similar London catchment geography.
• Sydenham High School GDST: Sister GDST school in South East London offering Nursery through Sixth Form education for girls. Most directly comparable as a same-network, same-age-range, same-day independent girls' school in London.
• Royal Grammar School Guildford: Independent co-educational day school in Surrey serving ages 4-18. Comparable in independent UK K-12 model, premium fee structure, and overlap with the Surrey/South London catchment.
• Nottingham Girls' High School GDST: GDST sister school in the East Midlands offering a comparable Nursery-through-Sixth Form girls' education model. Directly comparable in governance, curriculum, and bursary structure.
• Brighton Girls GDST: GDST sister school in Brighton offering the same single-sex girls' education model from Nursery through Sixth Form. Closely comparable in academic offering, governance, and network synergies.

Regional players

• Epsom College: Independent co-educational day and boarding school in Surrey for ages 11-18. Comparable in premium UK independent positioning, breadth of extracurricular programmes, and Surrey feeder market.
• Reigate Grammar School: Independent day school in Surrey covering ages 2-18. Comparable in premium fee structure, multiple revenue streams (wraparound care, facility hire), and South London/Surrey catchment overlap.
• Whitgift School: Neighbouring independent boys' school in South Croydon, partnered with Croydon High for annual charity netball. Comparable in local geography, independent fee structure, and parental demographic.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/croydonhighsch
• Facebookfacebook.com/croydonhighschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/croydon-high-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/croydonhighschool

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Croydon High School GDST