The History of Forestdale

Before

Long before Forestdale Primary School was built, the land around our school was open countryside on the edge of Croydon.

The area was made up of fields, hedgerows, woodland and smallholdings, with farmland stretching towards Selsdon, Addington and Hamsey Green. The landscape was also close to ancient woodland, including areas such as Selsdon Wood and Court Wood, which have been part of the local environment for centuries and are still enjoyed by our pupils today through visits and outdoor learning.

The area is also close to Addington Palace, a historic site with links to the local area and the wider history of Croydon. Nearby Addington was once home to a royal hunting lodge used by King Henry VIII, reflecting the long history of the countryside surrounding what is now Forestdale.

The wider area has a long history of green spaces. Nearby Addington Golf Club, which was established in 1913, was already part of the local landscape many years before the Forestdale estate was created.

There were no houses, no Pixton Way and no school, just open fields, country lanes and green spaces.

Creating the Forestdale Community

During the late 1960s, the landscape around what is now Forestdale began to change. What had once been open farmland became a carefully planned new residential community.

New homes were built to provide families with modern housing, surrounded by green spaces, footpaths and local facilities. The development was designed to create a community where people could live, work and grow together.

As homes were completed, families began moving into the new Forestdale estate. To support the growing number of children and families, plans included a new primary school, shops, community facilities and areas for recreation.

Building a New School

Forestdale Primary School was built as part of the new Forestdale estate, providing a local school for the growing number of families moving into the area.

The original architects designed a school that could develop and adapt as the community grew.

This is Forestdale today. You can see that the original plan to build the junior building alongside the dining hall did not proceed; instead, it was built farther down the hill. We are fortunate to have such a beautiful, green site, which continues to provide an inspiring environment for our pupils.

Opening Day

Forestdale Primary School officially opened its doors on Thursday 9 April 1970.

The first Headteacher was Miss G M Bray, who welcomed the very first pupils into the new school.

According to the original school log book, there were just 35 pupils on opening day:

• 15 Juniors
• 12 Top Infants
• 8 Reception and Middle Infants

These first pupils became the beginning of the Forestdale Primary School story.

The original log book entry recording the opening of Forestdale Primary School.

School Life 

The original school log book provides a fascinating insight into everyday life at Forestdale Primary School.

It records important events and gives us a glimpse into the experiences of pupils and staff during the school's first year.

One entry reflects the approaches to behaviour management used in schools in the 1980s, including the use of corporal punishment. This was an accepted practice in schools at the time but is no longer used today.

The school's Register of Corporal Punishment is currently on display outside the hall.

Becoming a Two Form Entry School

As Forestdale continued to grow, so did the school.The archive includes a newspaper cutting and photographs showing the first Reception children to begin as part of the school's two form entry expansion.This was another important moment in Forestdale's history, allowing more children from the local community to join the school.

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This time-lapse video captures the transformation of Forestdale as our junior building took shape between 2012 and 2013. From the early stages of construction to the completed building, it shows the vision, planning and teamwork that created the facilities our pupils use today.

Celebrating 50 Years

In 2020, Forestdale Primary School celebrated 50 years of learning, friendship and community.

The anniversary coin created to mark this milestone represents five decades of memories made by thousands of pupils, families and staff. 

Celebrating 50 years of Forestdale Primary School.

Then and Now

The landscape around our school has changed dramatically.

Then:

Open farmland

Fields and hedgerows

A brand new community

35 pupils on opening day

Now:

A thriving primary school

Classrooms, playgrounds and green spaces

Generations of families connected to the school

Hundreds of pupils learning together

Although the fields have changed, the school remains at the heart of the Forestdale community.