Graded inspection · Nov 2023 Previous framework
- Quality of education
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Personal development
- Leadership and management
This schoolOther secondary schools in EssexSelective
What did Ofsted find?
Ofsted data to 30 September 2026| Area | Outstanding | Good | Requires improvement | Inadequate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quality of education | Outstanding | |||
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding | |||
| Personal development | Outstanding | |||
| Leadership and management | Outstanding | |||
| Sixth form provision | Outstanding |
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 entry744 applications · 190 places offered · 322 named it first
SelectiveApplications include children who did not pass the entrance test.
- 2026 3.9; Essex median median 2.8
- 2025 3.8; Essex median median 2.7
- 2024 3.8; Essex median median 2.8
- 2023 3.7; Essex median median 2.7
- 2022 3.4; Essex median median 2.7
- 2021 4.6; Essex median median 2.6
- 2020 3.5; Essex median median 2.8
- 2019 4.0; Essex median median 2.7
- 2018 3.6; Essex median median 2.6
- 2017 3.6; Essex median median 2.7
- 2016 3.5; Essex median median 2.6
- 2015 3.4; Essex median median 2.5
- 2014 3.2; Essex median median 2.6
- This school
- Essex median
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council
Selective: register for the entrance test with the school first, usually by the summer before (dates vary). Dates
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 | 190 | 744 | 3.9 | 322 | 1.69 |
| Sep 2025 | 192 | 735 | 3.8 | 318 | 1.66 |
| Sep 2024 | 192 | 724 | 3.8 | 290 | 1.51 |
| Sep 2023 | 190 | 710 | 3.7 | 291 | 1.53 |
| Sep 2022 | 191 | 647 | 3.4 | 276 | 1.45 |
| Sep 2021 | 190 | 873 | 4.6 | 381 | 2.01 |
| Sep 2020 | 191 | 670 | 3.5 | 296 | 1.55 |
| Sep 2019 | 160 | 645 | 4.0 | 308 | 1.93 |
| Sep 2018 | 159 | 570 | 3.6 | 247 | 1.55 |
| Sep 2017 | 158 | 570 | 3.6 | 250 | 1.58 |
| Sep 2016 | 159 | 557 | 3.5 | 294 | 1.85 |
| Sep 2015 | 148 | 498 | 3.4 | 249 | 1.68 |
| Sep 2014 | 140 | 444 | 3.2 | 250 | 1.79 |
How did pupils do at GCSE?
DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisionalEvery year as a table
| Year | Pupils | Attainment 8 | 5+ Eng & maths | 4+ Eng & maths | Progress 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 (prov.) | 190 | 79.7 | 98% | 100% | – |
| 2024/25 | 191 | 80.6 | 100% | 100% | – |
| 2023/24 | 159 | 80.8 | 99% | 100% | +0.99 |
| 2022/23 | 160 | 80.5 | 99% | 100% | +0.99 |
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 County High School for GirlsThis schoolThis schoolOutstanding20233.9applications per place 79.7Attainment 8 Selective
- 0.0 km · EssexRemains Good20234.4applications per place 58.4Attainment 8
- 0.5 km · EssexGood20233.5applications per place 45.6Attainment 8
- 0.8 km · EssexSerious weaknesses 20266.3applications per place 80.9Attainment 8 Selective
- 1.4 km · EssexGood20243.4applications per place 42.4Attainment 8
- 1.5 km · EssexGood20242.8applications per place 42.4Attainment 8
- 2.4 km · EssexRemains Good20233.1applications per place 48.3Attainment 8
- 2.6 km · EssexStandards maintained20252.7applications per place 41.2Attainment 8
- 4.5 km · EssexStandards maintained20253.9applications per place 49.9Attainment 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 converter
- Phase
- Secondary
- URN · DfE number
- 137515 · 881/5454
- Trust
- Alpha Trust
- Admissions policy
- Selective
- Capacity
- 1,020 pupils · 1,198 on roll
- Free school meals
- 2.5% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Opened
- 1 October 2011
- Replaced
- Colchester County High School for Girls (URN 115370)
- Address
- Norman Way, Colchester, CO3 3US
- Local authority
- Essex · Colchester
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources