Community school · Essex

Friars Grove Primary School

5–11Ages
408Pupils
PrimaryPhase
114761URN

Upland Drive, Colchester, CO4 0PZ · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded GoodOct 2013

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Jul 2023

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.2per place

close to Essex median (2.4)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Essex

94 applications for 43 places · 206th of 363 in Essex

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

59%met the expected standard

Essex 66% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded GoodOct 2013

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Jul 2023

Inspection history

12 July 2023
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good
22 October 2013
Graded inspection: Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

2.2applications per place, Reception

close to Essex median (2.4) close to England median (2.2)

94 applications · 43 places offered · 36 named it first

2026 2.2; Essex median median 2.4
2025 2.0; Essex median median 2.4
2024 2.5; Essex median median 2.4
2023 2.1; Essex median median 2.4
2022 2.2; Essex median median 2.4
2021 2.4; Essex median median 2.3
2020 2.2; Essex median median 2.4
2019 2.9; Essex median median 2.5
2018 2.1; Essex median median 2.5
2017 2.7; Essex median median 2.6
2016 3.2; Essex median median 2.8
2015 2.9; Essex median median 2.7
2014 2.7; Essex median median 2.8

This school
Essex median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	43	94	2.2	36	0.84
Sep 2025	54	107	2.0	47	0.87
Sep 2024	38	96	2.5	38	1.00
Sep 2023	60	125	2.1	50	0.83
Sep 2022	49	108	2.2	43	0.88
Sep 2021	54	127	2.4	44	0.81
Sep 2020	60	129	2.2	59	0.98
Sep 2019	35	103	2.9	29	0.83
Sep 2018	58	123	2.1	55	0.95
Sep 2017	60	163	2.7	54	0.90
Sep 2016	60	192	3.2	43	0.72
Sep 2015	60	172	2.9	62	1.03
Sep 2014	60	161	2.7	38	0.63

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 71% · Writing 71% · Maths 71% → all three 59% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard59%250th of 387 in Essex

Essex 66% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard71%

Essex 79% England 78%

Higher standard32%

Essex 33% England 33%

Average scaled score 105 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard71%

Essex 76% England 75%

Greater depth8%

Essex 13% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard71%

Essex 78% England 77%

Higher standard24%

Essex 24% England 24%

Average scaled score 104 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Essex median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	59%	7%	105	104
2023/24	48%	2%	106	103
2022/23	52%	2%	104	101

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Friars Grove Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Remains Good2023

2.2applications per place 59%met the SATs standard
Willow Brook Primary School and Nursery
0.6 km · Essex

Good2022

2.3applications per place 50%met the SATs standard
Parsons Heath Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
0.8 km · Essex

Remains Good2023

2.2applications per place 47%met the SATs standard
St John's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Colchester
0.8 km · Essex

Remains Good2022

3.3applications per place 72%met the SATs standard
Roach Vale Primary School
1.0 km · Essex

Good2023

2.7applications per place 57%met the SATs standard
Highwoods Community Primary School
1.1 km · Essex

Remains Good · improving2024

2.6applications per place 78%met the SATs standard
Hazelmere Junior School
1.2 km · Essex

Good2022

38%met the SATs standard
Hazelmere Infant School and Nursery
1.2 km · Essex

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.7applications per place
Brinkley Grove Primary School
1.5 km · Essex

Some aspects not as strong2024

2.3applications per place 76%met the SATs standard

School details

Type: Community school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 114761 · 881/2075
Capacity: 420 pupils · 408 on roll
Free school meals: 19.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
Replaced: Friars Grove Junior School (URN 114753)
Address: Upland Drive, Colchester, CO4 0PZ
Local authority: Essex · Colchester

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources