South Croydon catholic school has expanded its offer to include a new nursery class

Early years: nursery school pupils are welcomed on their first day at Regina Coeli

Regina Coeli on Pampisford Road in South Croydon has been ranked the top primary school in Croydon and in the top 10% of primaries across the country.

The Times Top 1000 Primary Schools list is widely regarded as the definitive measure of primary school performance in England. The 2026 list has Regina Coeli ranked at 55th in the country, and the only primary in Croydon in the top 100.

Tessa Christoforou, Regina Coeli’s head, said: “Regina Coeli’s position within the top 10% nationally reflects the dedication of its pupils, staff, governors and families.”

The ranking comes as the school has this month, for the first time, opened a nursery class for children aged from three to four years.

The nursery pupils were greeted with a special welcome committee. The school’s Pupil Parliament was on hand to meet the children, in an effort to ensure a smooth transition into the school community.

“The youngest pupils have already settled in remarkably well, embracing their new learning environment with confidence, curiosity and enthusiasm,” the school said.

The expansion comes as the government is providing some additional funding for early years provision.

It “marks an exciting new chapter, allowing the school to extend its high-quality, faith-based education to the Early Years foundation stage”, according to the school.

Inside Croydon – If you want real journalism, delivering real news, from a publication that is actually based in the borough, please consider paying for it. Sign up today: click here for more details

PAID ADS: To advertise your services or products to our 10,000 weekday visitors to the site, as featured on Google News Showcase, email us inside.croydon@btinternet.com for our unbeatable ad rates

• If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, or want to publicise your residents’ association or business, or if you have a local event to promote, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com

• As featured on Google News Showcase

• We offer FREE ads to community groups when they have members who are paid subscribers to Inside Croydon

• Our comments section on every report provides all readers with an immediate “right of reply” on all our content. Our comments policy can be read by clicking here

• ROTTEN BOROUGH AWARDS: In January 2026, Croydon was named among the country’s rottenest boroughs for an EIGHTH time in nine years, in Private Eye magazine’s annual round-up of civic cock-ups

• Inside Croydon is a member of the Independent Community News Network