Broadmead Primary School

The history of Broadmead, and the Sydenham Schools which preceded it, in some ways is much like the history of many other primary schools: created following Forster’s Education Act of 1870 (which established universal education up to the age of twelve), then pupils both past and current being affected by two World Wars, and in the 21st century conversion to an academy. However, it is also the human story of several  thousand children and the several hundred staff who taught them.

The schools at Broadmead succeeded the Sydenham Schools, which were located in a building (no longer in existence) between Arundel Road and Westbury Road, with the entrance in Westbury Road. The Sydenham Senior Boys and Sydenham Senior Girls & Infants Schools were opened in 1881. 

During the 1960s, the schools were reorganised into the Junior Mixed and Infants Schools. In 1972, the Sydenham Schools were replaced by the Broadmead Infants and Junior Schools, and the Sydenham Schools building was demolished in 1974. Many staff transferred from Sydenham to Broadmead, including Mrs Chris Wragg, who joined Sydenham in 1957, eventually retired as Deputy Head of Broadmead Juniors, and was still involved with the schools as a Governor well beyond 2000. This is typical of several members of staff who joined Broadmead, often early in their careers, and stayed there for many years serving the North Croydon community.

One item unfortunately lost during the move from Sydenham to Broadmead was the plaque in remembrance of the 60 ex-Sydenham pupils who lost their lives during the Great War. As with so many schools, the War had a terrible impact upon Old Boys and their families.

During the Second World War, when Croydon was subjected to heavy bombing raids, the Sydenham Schools were evacuated to other parts of the country. Many were evacuated to Week St Mary in Cornwall. Other children were evacuated to Woodingdean, near Brighton.  Mr Martin, the Assistant Headmaster of the Senior Boys School, managed both moves, and acted as headmaster during the schools’ stay in Cornwall.

Until Broadmead became an academy, its badge consisted of a silhouette of the Cornish Chough, commemorating the evacuation to Cornwall, and the motto “Ascendam”, meaning “I arise”, which represented the schools’ continual aim to encourage pupils to realise, and make the most of, their potential.

Originally both Broadmead schools were two-form entry. During the 1990s they were expanded to three-form entry, and the Nursery was added to the Infants School. This involved considerable building work.

In 2010 the two schools were amalgamated to form Broadmead Primary School. This required further building work, particularly the creation of a corridor which provided a proper connection between the two halves of the school, enabling it to function as one school.

In 2014 the school became a sponsored academy under the REAch2 Trust. 

In 2017 the REAch2 Trust approached the Department of Education suggesting that it was in the school’s interests to have a change of sponsor, and Broadmead moved to the Pioneer Academy Trust on 1st April 2017.