Harris Primary Academy Benson

Harris Primary Academy Benson is performing exceptionally well, achieving an overall effectiveness rating of outstanding in all domains assessed during the inspection. The leaders have created a strong educational environment underpinned by clear values that promote respect, responsibility, and good decision-making among pupils. The curriculum is broad and ambitious, allowing all pupils, including those with SEND, to excel academically, while fostering a love for reading and an understanding of their community and the wider world. The school's culture of exemplary behaviour and supportive relationships contributes significantly to pupils thriving in both their academic and personal development.

Strengths

• Highly ambitious and well-implemented curriculum across all subjects.
• Strong emphasis on early reading and phonics education.
• Excellent behaviour and attitudes promoted throughout the school.
• High levels of personal development and character building opportunities for pupils.
• Effective support for pupils with SEND to access the full curriculum.
• Strong partnership with parents and the community.
• Rigorous safeguarding procedures in place.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Harris Primary Academy Benson attended 94.2% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 12.3% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.0% of pupils at Harris Primary Academy Benson were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Harris Primary Academy Benson had 23.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 50.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 10.9% of pupils at Harris Primary Academy Benson were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.5% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Harris Primary Academy Benson received £7,621 and spent £7,731 for each of its 235 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £194,000 (£826 per pupil).

Across all 58 schools of Harris Federation, income was £8,891 and spending £8,882 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Croydon · Croydon local authority: places and applications

Harris Primary Academy Benson is part of Harris Federation, which runs 58 schools. The nearest others:

• Harris Primary Academy Beckenham Beckenham
• Harris Academy Beckenham Beckenham
• Harris Primary Academy Haling Park Croydon
• Harris Professional Skills Sixth Form London
• Harris Academy South Norwood London
• Harris Invictus Academy Croydon Croydon
• Harris Primary Academy Beckenham Green Beckenham
• Harris Primary Academy Kent House London
• Harris Primary Academy Shortlands Bromley
• Harris Academy Purley South Croydon

What is Harris Primary Academy Benson's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Harris Primary Academy Benson is Outstanding, from an inspection in July 2023.

When was Harris Primary Academy Benson last inspected by Ofsted?

Harris Primary Academy Benson was last inspected in July 2023.

How many pupils does Harris Primary Academy Benson have?

Harris Primary Academy Benson has 238 pupils on roll.

What age range does Harris Primary Academy Benson cover?

Harris Primary Academy Benson for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Harris Primary Academy Benson's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 74% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Harris Primary Academy Benson?

Harris Primary Academy Benson is at West Way, Shirley, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 8RQ.