Education Policy Updates Impact Croydon Families and Adult Learners

Education policy in Croydon is undergoing a period of adjustment as the local authority navigates new statutory frameworks and shifting funding landscapes. According to reports regarding the Education Estates Strategy 2023-2026, the council has established a multi-year plan aimed at fulfilling its statutory duties to ensure school place sufficiency across Early Years, Primary, and Secondary education. A primary objective of this strategy is to minimize council borrowing while maintaining necessary educational infrastructure for the borough.

For local families, the most significant change concerns the admission of students to secondary schools. As of November 2023, the council implemented a new Fair Access Protocol following a period of public consultation. This protocol is part of the borough's ongoing responsibility to ensure each child has access to a school place, a duty that requires the council to determine admission arrangements for community schools on an annual basis.

Adult Education and Institutional Funding

Changes are also reaching the adult learning sector. Croydon College’s 2025-26 Fees Policy indicates that the institution is navigating significantly reduced public funding from the Greater London Authority. This reduction has resulted in a greater number of courses being designated as full cost or requiring students to access Adult Loans compared to the 2024/25 academic year. These adjustments are intended to align the college’s offerings with the current financial reality of limited public subsidies.

Support for specialized education remains a focal point for the local authority. The Dedicated Schools Grant, which provides essential funding for the borough's schools, is set to increase by 2.2% over a three-year period. This funding is specifically earmarked to support the ongoing implementation of the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Strategy 2023-2026. By directing these resources toward SEND provision, the council aims to manage its statutory obligations within the limits of the current grant allocation.

The council continues to monitor the effectiveness of these strategies as it manages the local education estate. Residents with questions regarding admission arrangements or the availability of specific school places are encouraged to consult the latest council updates on education planning, as the local authority remains committed to its statutory duty of providing access to education for all children in the area.

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