Frequently Asked Questions

  • The school opened its doors to pupils at the start of the 2016/17 academic year and has all year groups to Year 6.
  • We are located in Central Croydon. Our permanent site opened in September 2018 on Southbridge Place CR0 4HA. This was a £5 million project and state of the art Croydon school. 
  • The Avanti Schools Trust, a multi-academy Trust with many successful schools. You can find out more at www.avanti.org.uk. 

Having seen existing Avanti schools, the local residents of Croydon campaigned and demonstrated support for a number of years to open a similar school in the area to benefit local children and the wider community. In one survey of 4000 residents (less than 11% of whom were Hindu) support for such a school was over 93%. Avanti Schools are the only providers of holistic, state-funded Hindu schools in the UK, you can learn more about our unique approach to education at avanti.org.uk.

The name ‘Krishna-Avanti’ carries special significance to the Hindu community. Literally, the name means ‘Krishna’s Avanti’. Krishna is a name for God meaning ‘All Attractive’. Whilst Hindus believe in only one God, they also believe that God can take different forms and incarnations. During His presence on this planet, Krishna also went to school – in a place called Avanti. Hence with the name ‘Krishna-Avanti’, we hope to inspire a simultaneous attachment to both God and education, as taught by Krishna Himself. 

The school has an admission number of 30 for entry in reception year. In subsequent academic years the admissions number is 30. At full capacity there would be 210 pupils. We currently have approximately 200 pupils enrolled at Krishna Avanti.

School Life

Our schools require that all pupils eat the freshly cooked, healthy school lunches (other than those with medical conditions which cannot be catered for). The schools do not allow packed lunches. We provide hot, varied, nutritionally balanced vegetarian food through our catering subsidiary Govindas Ltd. 

You can learn more about our uniform policy here

We start and finish earlier than most schools for a number of reasons including avoiding local congestion and research showing children are more alert in the mornings which helps them progress academically.

KS1 & EYFS – 7.45am to 2.45pm

KS2 – 7.45am to 2.45pm

Education

Yes. In addition to this, the school will teach yoga, Sanskrit and the Philosophy, Religion and Ethics curriculum.

Yes, Krishna Avanti will operate a withdrawal policy.

Mrs Bijal Pandya is the School Principal since April 2021.

Faith

The development of spiritual insight is at the heart of the curriculum and draws on the teachings of Krishna Chaitanya, which embrace a universal, inclusive approach to spirituality, aimed at rekindling a personal, loving and spontaneous relationship with the divine (Krishna). The curriculum offers opportunities to explore and compare the philosophies and traditions of different faiths. 

Yes, Krishna Avanti is a Hindu faith-designated school whose religious authority is iFoundation. 

No, our schools do not recruit staff on the basis of faith. We hold open recruitment to find the best individuals from any faith and none.

Admissions

No, Krishna Avanti will not operate any faith criteria in its admissions. We are an inclusive school and the admissions policy can be found here. 

All children that will be starting Reception year in September 2025 (born between 1st September and 31st August) can apply via Croydon Council e-admissions from 1st September 2024 to 15th January 2025. SIF forms are available on our website to anyone that is eligible to apply through this route.

Yes, you can apply through Croydon Council for an in-year transfer to any year group that has a vacancy. You can apply to remain on our waiting list from Reception through to Year 6 at any point in the academic year. Please feel free to call the school office for further information about this.

Yes, Krishna Avanti is a state-funded school and therefore there are no fees to pay.

Other

Yes, information will be on our social media pages. Our open days are available to book through Eventbrite.