Academy sponsor led · Essex

Colchester Academy

11–16Ages
879Pupils
SecondaryPhase
136195URN

Hawthorn Avenue, Colchester, CO4 3JL · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Mar 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.5per place

1.3 below Essex median (2.8)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in EssexSelective

238 applications for 160 places · 69th of 78 in Essex

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

35.3of 90

Essex 45.6 England 46.0

74th of 79 in Essex

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 8 March 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		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

1.5applications per place, Year 7

1.3 below Essex median (2.8) 0.7 below England median (2.2)

238 applications · 160 places offered · 105 named it first

2026 1.5; Essex median median 2.8
2025 1.5; Essex median median 2.7
2024 1.7; Essex median median 2.8
2023 1.4; Essex median median 2.7
2022 1.3; Essex median median 2.7
2021 1.2; Essex median median 2.6
2020 1.3; Essex median median 2.8
2019 0.9; Essex median median 2.7
2018 1.6; Essex median median 2.6
2017 1.8; Essex median median 2.7
2016 1.4; Essex median median 2.6
2015 1.8; Essex median median 2.5
2014 1.8; Essex median median 2.6

More applications per place than the Essex median in 0 of 13 years.

This school
Essex median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, 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	160	238	1.5	105	0.66
Sep 2025	166	243	1.5	109	0.66
Sep 2024	154	258	1.7	116	0.75
Sep 2023	170	234	1.4	121	0.71
Sep 2022	176	222	1.3	116	0.66
Sep 2021	177	217	1.2	92	0.52
Sep 2020	221	278	1.3	127	0.57
Sep 2019	232	210	0.9	94	0.41
Sep 2018	151	241	1.6	121	0.80
Sep 2017	122	220	1.8	102	0.84
Sep 2016	148	211	1.4	79	0.53
Sep 2015	115	204	1.8	89	0.77
Sep 2014	136	249	1.8	103	0.76

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

177 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)35.374th of 79 in Essex

Essex 45.6 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths26%71st of 79 in Essex

Essex 43% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths43%

Essex 66% England 66%

This school
Essex median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.91

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	177	35.3	26%	43%	–
2024/25	201	38.5	31%	50%	–
2023/24	179	34.9	22%	37%	−0.91
2022/23	151	36.9	22%	38%	−0.56

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

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

Colchester AcademyThis school
This school

Good2023

1.5applications per place 35.3Attainment 8
The Gilberd School
2.8 km · Essex

Standards maintained2025

3.9applications per place 49.9Attainment 8
The Trinity School
2.8 km · Essex

Graded · no overall grade2025

3.9applications per place 49.6Attainment 8
St Helena School
3.5 km · Essex

Good2024

3.4applications per place 42.4Attainment 8
Colchester Royal Grammar School
3.7 km · Essex

Serious weaknesses 2026

6.3applications per place 80.9Attainment 8 Selective
The Thomas Lord Audley School
3.8 km · Essex

Standards maintained2025

2.7applications per place 41.2Attainment 8
St Benedict's Catholic College
4.5 km · Essex

Remains Good2023

4.4applications per place 58.4Attainment 8
Colchester County High School for Girls
4.5 km · Essex

Outstanding2023

3.9applications per place 79.7Attainment 8 Selective
Philip Morant School and College
4.8 km · Essex

Good2023

3.5applications per place 45.6Attainment 8

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.

School details

Type: Academy sponsor led
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 136195 · 881/6911
Trust: Penrose Learning Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 910 pupils · 879 on roll
Free school meals: 42.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 September 2010
Replaced: Sir Charles Lucas Arts College (URN 115366)
Address: Hawthorn Avenue, Colchester, CO4 3JL
Local authority: Essex · Colchester

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources