The school was notable not only in the eminent alumni that feature among its forerunners' former pupils, but also because of the dramatic contrasts in its academic fortunes over time.

[1] The Borough (renamed Selhurst in 1921) Grammar School for Boys opened in September 1904 at the Scarbrook Road premises occupied in the evenings by Croydon Polytechnic.

The school moved into its premises in the Crescent in September 1913 but returned to Scarbrook Road in 1915 for the remainder of the First World War.

During World War I it moved to the Croydon Polytechnic buildings in order that The Crescent premises should be used as a hospital.

During the Second World War, the school was evacuated to Hove and in 1940 moved inland to Virginia Water and Egham and later to "The Beeches", at Guildford, again to return after the conclusion of hostilities.

Its fortunes then declined spectacularly, and in 1995 it was named by the government as one of the 18 worst schools in Britain; it was placed in Special Measures and closed.

Selhurst, as Ingram High School, was in Special Measures for a number of years and was underperforming, although, under new direction, the 2006 examination results were the best ever achieved, and the Ofsted inspection that year recognised the school’s significant strengths.

It has a semi-circular front and boasted a large main hall, extensive playing fields, two gyms and a library.

The building was used as an exterior location for an episode ("Back to Class") of Jasper Carrott's 1996 TV comedy series "The Detectives".

[citation needed] The buildings of the site of Ingram on Springfield Road have been identified as being of Architectural or Historic Interest[6]