First opened in 1862, The school was part of the educational provision of the Diocese of Southwark[2] and later, the London Borough of Croydon.

Saint Andrew's school was opened in the summer of 1861 by Reverend Fitzroy John Fitzwygram, initially in rented rooms behind St Andrew's Church in Lower Coombe Street and next to the Surrey Cricketers public house.

By December of the following year permanent building for boys and girls, as well as an infants schools were opened in Southbridge Road.

[4] Fitzwygram ran the parish of St Andrew's for about 18 months during the absence of the first vicar, Rev.

This would be self-supporting financially, and eventually be capable of also housing an "industrial school" for the working classes.

This was in direct contrast to the local ragged school, which was funded by charitable donations and provided a form of free education and often food and clothing to the poorest children.

However, the poor quality of education at the ragged school was a cause of much controversy in the Croydon Times, leading eventually to an editorial.

The circumstances surrounding Fitzwygram's departure are not clear, but reports in the local papers indicate that the return of the vicar was an unsettled time for the parish.

He returned to visit the pupils a couple of weeks later when special gifts of a salver and a silver lead pencil were presented to him and words of appreciation said.

The girls' and infants' school opened with 31 pupils but, within four months, numbers had risen to 80.

This was probably due to the fact that there were more schools for boys in Croydon competing with St Andrew's.

This proved sadly prophetic for within ten months of taking up his post as head master of the new St Andrew's school for boys, he died from smallpox.

Enrolment increased and education was provided from infants to age 11 in a single school.

Within five years the school had to be rebuilt and enlarged to accommodate the numbers, and the offering was extended up to age 14.

[18] A previous OFSTED report[19] had cited the effective measures that the school has in place to support teaching and learning and continue to raise outcomes.

The school established a theatre company to help students stage regular showcases, including cultural celebrations and concerts.

Through its relationship with the British Theatre Academy, the school saw its pupils perform in the West End[22] in The Color Purple.

[24] The St Andrew's badge was inspired the Scottish national flag, but was developed to a unique logo showing a shield with the white saltire cross of St Andrew on a blue (heraldic azure) ground, with the cross pierced a red five-leafed open coronet.

The annual admissions procedure was shared with St Andrew's sister school, Archbishop Tenison's, from 1978 until 2018.