Schoolfile
Search

District · Essex

Schools in Colchester

  • 81State-funded schools
  • 64Primary
  • 12Secondary

Admissions are run by Essex for the whole county.

Applications per placeCircle size: applications
Applications per place · secondary
3.4
0.5 above Essex median (2.8)
Median school in Colchester
New Ofsted report cards
6of 81 schools
Results by area
First choice · secondary · Essex-wide
83%
Essex admissions

What has Ofsted found here?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Report cards 6 schools of 81 · since November 2025

  • Inclusion
  • Curriculum and teaching
  • Achievement
  • Attendance and behaviour
  • Personal development and wellbeing
  • Early years (4)
  • Post-16 provision (1)
  • Leadership and governance

One dot per school.

Overall grade from Ofsted's previous framework 60 schools · graded 2011 to 2024

  • Outstanding5
  • Good52
  • Requires improvement0
  • Inadequate3

Includes grades confirmed by a later ungraded inspection. Not comparable with report cards.

Graded 2024/25, no overall grade 14 schools

Key judgementOutstandingGoodRequires improvementInadequate
Quality of education2111–
Behaviour and attitudes2111–
Personal development59––
Leadership and management2111–

Not yet inspected (new or reorganised schools): 1.

Latest report cards

Every new report card, month by month

Secondary schools in Colchester

12 schools · Year 7 entry 2026

Change the order (visual only)

Sorted by applications per place for September 2026 entry, highest first.

Sorted by Attainment 8, highest first.

Sorted by the date of the latest Ofsted inspection, newest first.

Sorted by name.

Sources: DfE admissions (Sept 2026), KS4 results, Ofsted.
SchoolLatest OfstedApplications per placeAttainment 8FSM
Colchester Royal Grammar School Selective Faith Serious weaknesses 2026 6.3 applications per place 80.9 5%
St Benedict's Catholic College Faith Remains Good2023 4.4 applications per place 58.4 9%
Colchester County High School for Girls Selective Outstanding2023 3.9 applications per place 79.7 3%
The Gilberd School Standards maintained2025 3.9 applications per place 49.9 15%
The Trinity School Graded · no overall grade2025 3.9 applications per place 49.6 16%
Philip Morant School and College Good2023 3.5 applications per place 45.6 25%
St Helena School Good2024 3.4 applications per place 42.4 34%
The Stanway School Remains Good2023 3.1 applications per place 48.3 16%
Paxman Academy Good2024 2.8 applications per place 42.4 33%
The Thomas Lord Audley School Standards maintained2025 2.7 applications per place 41.2 30%
Thurstable School Graded · no overall grade2025 2.1 applications per place 46.5 19%
Colchester Academy Good2023 1.5 applications per place 35.3 42%

Sources: DfE admissions (Sept 2026), KS4 results, Ofsted. FSM: free school meals.

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Primary schools in Colchester

64 schools · Reception entry 2026

Sorted by applications per place for September 2026 entry, highest first.

Sources: DfE admissions (Sept 2026), KS2 results, Ofsted.
SchoolLatest OfstedApplications per placeSATs standardFSM
Messing Primary School Graded · no overall grade2025 4.9small intake applications per place 36% 17%
Kendall Church of England Primary School Faith Graded · no overall grade2025 4.6 applications per place 72% 21%
Baynards Primary School 2026 4.2small intake applications per place 67% 42%
Home Farm Primary School 2026 4.1 applications per place 75% 7%
Old Heath Community Primary School 2026 3.6 applications per place 70% 24%
Fingringhoe Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Faith Good2023 3.5 applications per place 54% 21%
Myland Community Primary School Improved significantly2025 3.4 applications per place 76% 9%
Langenhoe Community Primary School Good2023 3.3 applications per place 78% 15%
St John's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Colchester Faith Remains Good2022 3.3 applications per place 72% 6%
Lexden Primary School with Unit for Hearing Impaired Pupils Remains Good2023 3.2 applications per place 67% 26%
St Teresa's Catholic Primary School, Colchester Faith Graded · no overall grade2025 3.1 applications per place 74% 7%
Hamilton Primary School Graded · no overall grade2025 3.1 applications per place 79% 9%
Copford Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Faith 2026 3.1 applications per place 85% 4%
Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Faith Remains Good2024 3.0small intake applications per place 58% 24%
Holy Trinity CofE Primary School, Eight Ash Green and Aldham Faith Remains Good2022 3.0small intake applications per place 71% 27%
Tiptree Heath Primary School Standards maintained2024 3.0 applications per place 47% 12%
St Michael's Primary School and Nursery, Colchester Graded · no overall grade2025 3.0 applications per place 56% 25%
Boxted St Peter's Church of England School Faith Good2022 2.9 applications per place 77% 7%
Gosbecks Primary School Remains Good2024 2.9 applications per place 53% 22%
Stanway Primary School Good2022 2.8 applications per place 61% 17%
Langham Primary Academy Good2023 2.8small intake applications per place – 10%
Millfields Primary School Graded · no overall grade2025 2.8 applications per place 47% 7%
Prettygate Infant School Good2022 2.7 applications per place – 13%
Layer-de-la-Haye Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Faith Remains Good2023 2.7 applications per place 75% 11%
Fordham All Saints CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School Faith Serious weaknesses Inadequate2022 2.7small intake applications per place 60% 2%
Roach Vale Primary School Good2023 2.7 applications per place 57% 41%
St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester Faith Outstanding2023 2.6 applications per place 93% 7%
The Bishop William Ward Church of England Primary School Faith Graded · no overall grade2025 2.6 applications per place 63% 17%
Highwoods Community Primary School Remains Good · improving2024 2.6 applications per place 78% 17%
Lakelands Primary School Outstanding2023 2.6 applications per place – 18%
Chappel CofE Controlled Primary School Faith Serious weaknesses Inadequate2022 2.5small intake applications per place 63% 4%
Broomgrove Infant School Good2024 2.5 applications per place – 17%
Stanway Fiveways Primary School Good2022 2.4 applications per place 54% 20%
St Luke's Church of England Controlled Primary School Faith Remains Good2024 2.4 applications per place 68% 11%
Brinkley Grove Primary School Some aspects not as strong2024 2.3 applications per place 76% 25%
Dedham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Faith Good2024 2.3 applications per place 83% 8%
Willow Brook Primary School and Nursery Good2022 2.3small intake applications per place 50% 42%
St John's Green Primary School Remains Good2023 2.3 applications per place 61% 22%
King's Ford Infant School and Nursery Graded · no overall grade2024 2.2 applications per place – 24%
Queen Boudica Primary School Remains Good2023 2.2 applications per place 66% 17%
Parsons Heath Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Faith Remains Good2023 2.2 applications per place 47% 40%
Friars Grove Primary School Remains Good2023 2.2 applications per place 59% 19%
Cherry Tree Academy Good2022 2.1 applications per place 79% 38%
St. George's School Good2023 2.1 applications per place 56% 34%
Milldene Primary School Remains Good2022 2.1 applications per place 77% 23%
Camulos Academy Standards maintained2024 2.1 applications per place 80% 17%
Birch Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Faith Standards maintained2025 2.0 applications per place 55% 11%
Heathlands Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, West Bergholt Faith Remains Good2024 2.0 applications per place 86% 9%
Braiswick Primary School Remains Good2024 1.9 applications per place 66% 15%
North Primary School and Nursery Remains Good2023 1.8 applications per place 47% 19%
St Andrew's Church of England Primary Academy, Marks Tey Faith Remains Good2022 1.8 applications per place 76% 5%
St James the Great Church of England Primary School Faith Standards maintained2025 1.8 applications per place 48% 23%
Hazelmere Infant School and Nursery Graded · no overall grade2025 1.7 applications per place – 21%
Monkwick Infant and Nursery School Standards maintained2025 1.6 applications per place – 31%
Montgomery Primary School, Colchester Improved significantly2025 1.6 applications per place 67% 18%
St Lawrence Church of England Primary School, Rowhedge Faith Standards maintained2024 1.6 applications per place 63% 20%
Unity Primary Academy Graded · no overall grade2025 1.6 applications per place 70% 51%
Mersea Island School Good2023 1.1 applications per place 56% 19%
Broomgrove Junior School Remains Good2024 no data 47% 20%
Hazelmere Junior School Good2022 no data 38% 47%
Kings Ford Academy Graded · no overall grade2025 no data 29% 30%
Monkwick Junior School Good2022 no data 54% 41%
Prettygate Junior School Remains Good · improving2024 no data 77% 16%
The Sixth Form College Colchester Not yet inspected no data – –

Sources: DfE admissions (Sept 2026), KS2 results, Ofsted. FSM: free school meals.

Special schools and other provision

5 schools