Croydon has one of lowest maths and English GCSE pass rates in London

By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

Croydon has one of the lowest maths and English pass rates in London, new data has revealed.

The “poverty profile” shows the percentage of 19-year-olds in Croydon without a pass in the two key subjects is higher than in many other London boroughs.

The profile is put together by poverty charity Trust for London which works to tackle inequality in the capital.

It said: “While Croydon has higher rates than the London average for housing affordability and housing delivery, for example, it has among the lowest levels for GCSE attainment and among the highest levels of infant mortality.”

In Croydon, just 70 per cent of pupils passed GCSE maths and English, compared with a London average of 75 per cent.

The figures are based on 19-year-olds living in the borough in 2021 who achieved a pass grade in maths and English.

Neighbouring Sutton was better than the London average with 84.8 per cent getting the grades It came top in the capital overall.

When the latest GCSE results were released in August, Croydon council said its English and maths results were in line with a three per cent national drop in results.

The council said work is being done to improve results with this year’s results an improvement on 2019.

It also had a higher level of 19-year-olds without a level three qualification. In 2020/21 this was 33.6 per cent compared to a London average of 24.4 per cent.

A Croydon council spokesman said: “The council and all our schools are determined to keep making positive improvements for Croydon students, with a shared commitment to help young people fulfil their full potential and achieve their aspirations and ambitions.

“We recognise that our results are below the London average and there is work to be done – progress is already being made to close the gap with the majority of our local schools achieving improved results compared to 2019.

“Students have experienced a difficult few years during the pandemic and this summer’s GCSE results were testament to their resilience and what we can achieve together.”

Pictured top: Croydon Town Hall (Picture: Grahame Larter)