APRIL
Trinity boys’ school confirms that it will go co-ed from 2027
Net gain: Trinity’s Sixth Formers already play netball, which seems likely to become a key part of the sporting offer when the school becomes co-ed
Another Inside Croydon exclusive.
After years of turmoil caused by the closure of Old Palace girls’ school (which was finally completed in July this year), we broke the story of a significant step forward for the Whitgift Foundation and its educational offerings via one of its two remaining boys’ schools with the confirmation that Trinity will open its gates to girls aged 10 and 11 from September 2027.
Whether you like or loathe the principle of private education, it is unarguable that the Whitgift Foundation makes a massive contribution to the economy of Croydon. Reckoned to employ around 1,000 people across all its operations, including its almshouses and care homes, Whitgift School in South Croydon and Trinity between them employ an estimated 500 teaching staff.
The schools generate around £50million per year in fee income alone. The Foundation provides about £6million per year in bursaries – grants for talented youngsters to attend the schools.
The Foundation, though, has been feeling the pinch of late, almost entirely to its property assets in the town centre, the Whitgift Centre shopping mall, being compromised by more than a decade of dither and delay over the £1billion regeneration promised by Westfield – which has stalled once again in 2025.
Trinity has had a co-ed Sixth Form since 2011 – their women water polo teams have made quite a splash – but making the school co-ed from Year 5 will be a gradual process over six years, and involve significant investment in new buildings, all on the site in Shirley Park.
“We now have an opportunity to extend co-education to our younger year groups, and I personally am very much looking forward to leading this development of the school,” Al Kennedy, the headmaster, wrote to parents, promising “a significant investment in our facilities for the benefit of all current and future generations of students”. He meant pupils, of course, but hey ho…
What a load of old Bull! Chain to rename Croydon’s oldest pub
Chain change for change’s sake: the ‘new-look’ oldest pub in Croydon, where pints are around £1 more expensive than they were before Brighton-based pub chain Laines took over
Another Inside Croydon exclusive.
Controversy over changes at Croydon’s oldest pub, as poncy lemon-flavoured lager merchants, Laines of Brighton, took over the Dog and Bull on Surrey Street.
There have even been claims that the new owners have made unapproved alterations to the Grade II-listed frontage of the pub, as they inexplicably dropped the “and Bull” from the name of the boozer.
There has been a pub on the site for at least 400 years. There’s never been pints of beer sold for as much as Laines charge, though, with the price of a pint going up by around £1 a time once the takeover happened.
Neighbours, meanwhile, remain wary about the prospect of late-night raves in the pub garden…
Kiosks to open today in clapped-out shell of Allders building
For one day only: the exciting new offer in the old Allders building. And Mayor Perry gets a free box of chicken wings
Our most-read article for the whole of the month of April was our April Fool’s spoof – inspired by the genius graphic design of Inside Croydon’s long-time collaborator Tim Longhurst.
Thing is, when the kiosks did actually open, inevitably later than Westfield promised (as ever), the reality wasn’t much different from the satirical piss-take iC had managed to produce for April Fool’s Day.
Doing these annual send-ups is getting tougher with each passing year: the people running this borough have taken absurdity to new lows.
Also in April…
A moment for celebration…
Former Inside Croydon intern wins national journalism award
A moment for mourning…
Wizz Jones, Croydon’s pioneer of folk music, has died aged 86
An ode to joy…
You cannot buy that: Glasner’s Eagles produce display of joy
And never let us say we told you so, but…
Network Rail pulls its planning request for Bridge to Nowhere
And keep an eye on this…
Agent on a mission overlooks Coulsdon Tories’ dark secret
The Whitgift Foundation’s new chief executive gave a frank and wide-ranging interview, discussing the closure of Old Palace girls’ school, and talking about the state of the long-stalled town centre redevelopment – revealing that Westfield will expect state subsidy of millions of pounds for their scheme to build close to 3,000 flats where the Whitgift Centre stands today.
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- If you missed our review of January 2025’s news, take a look at this: That was the year that was: Inside Croydon’s pick of 2025
- For February’s top news stories, have a look at this: Purley Pool, porkie pies and a busted budget
- For the highlights, and council lowlights, from March, click here: Council’s closed doors, Selhurst security, Bridge to Nowhere
- While in May 2025, we were mostly watching football:After 120 years, the Eagles live the dream at Wembley cup final
- June 2025 was When council boss blocked staff from reading Inside Croydon
- In July, Inside Croydon exposed how Croydon’s cash-strapped council was paying consultant £726 PER HOUR
- Fly-tipped mattresses that the council refused to touch, library books discared all over a street in Broad Green, more buckets than businesses in the Whitgift Centre, and Reform’s dead candidate for mayor. All to be found on Inside Croydon in August 2025
- In September 2025, we were the first to report the latest housing scandal to hit Croydon, and the council
- And in October, we broke the news that Katherine Kerswell had quit as council CEO, and was to received a £50,000 pay-off
- In November and December, we even had cabinet minister Steve Reed retweeting links to Inside Croydon news reports, which included coverage of the spaghetti restaurant named the best in the country
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