This schoolOther secondary schools in EssexSelective
What did Ofsted find?
Ofsted data to 30 September 2026Inspection history
- 5 February 2025Ungraded inspection: Standards maintained
- 21 November 2018Graded inspection: 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 entry1,183 applications · 306 places offered · 401 named it first
- 2026 3.9; Essex median median 2.8
- 2025 3.6; Essex median median 2.7
- 2024 3.7; Essex median median 2.8
- 2023 3.7; Essex median median 2.7
- 2022 3.5; Essex median median 2.7
- 2021 3.3; Essex median median 2.6
- 2020 3.2; Essex median median 2.8
- 2019 2.8; Essex median median 2.7
- 2018 2.6; Essex median median 2.6
- 2017 2.4; Essex median median 2.7
- 2016 2.6; Essex median median 2.6
- 2015 2.5; Essex median median 2.5
- 2014 2.6; Essex median median 2.6
- 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 | 306 | 1,183 | 3.9 | 401 | 1.31 |
| Sep 2025 | 320 | 1,166 | 3.6 | 377 | 1.18 |
| Sep 2024 | 319 | 1,166 | 3.7 | 375 | 1.18 |
| Sep 2023 | 317 | 1,186 | 3.7 | 412 | 1.30 |
| Sep 2022 | 296 | 1,048 | 3.5 | 411 | 1.39 |
| Sep 2021 | 298 | 982 | 3.3 | 454 | 1.52 |
| Sep 2020 | 306 | 981 | 3.2 | 420 | 1.37 |
| Sep 2019 | 305 | 857 | 2.8 | 372 | 1.22 |
| Sep 2018 | 320 | 835 | 2.6 | 373 | 1.17 |
| Sep 2017 | 320 | 774 | 2.4 | 363 | 1.13 |
| Sep 2016 | 291 | 749 | 2.6 | 348 | 1.20 |
| Sep 2015 | 298 | 729 | 2.5 | 325 | 1.09 |
| Sep 2014 | 268 | 701 | 2.6 | 291 | 1.09 |
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.) | 296 | 49.9 | 50% | 71% | – |
| 2024/25 | 306 | 53.4 | 58% | 77% | – |
| 2023/24 | 313 | 51.5 | 55% | 75% | +0.44 |
| 2022/23 | 327 | 49.7 | 46% | 69% | +0.33 |
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
- The Gilberd SchoolThis schoolThis schoolStandards maintained20253.9applications per place 49.9Attainment 8
- 0.1 km · EssexGraded · no overall grade20253.9applications per place 49.6Attainment 8
- 2.8 km · EssexGood20231.5applications per place 35.3Attainment 8
- 3.0 km · EssexGood20243.4applications per place 42.4Attainment 8
- 3.8 km · EssexSerious weaknesses 20266.3applications per place 80.9Attainment 8 Selective
- 4.5 km · EssexRemains Good20234.4applications per place 58.4Attainment 8
- 4.5 km · EssexOutstanding20233.9applications per place 79.7Attainment 8 Selective
- 4.9 km · EssexGood20233.5applications per place 45.6Attainment 8
- 5.3 km · EssexStandards maintained20252.7applications per place 41.2Attainment 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
- 137926 · 881/5441
- Trust
- Alpha Trust
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Capacity
- 1,600 pupils · 1,588 on roll
- Free school meals
- 15.4% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Opened
- 1 March 2012
- Replaced
- The Gilberd School (URN 115357)
- Address
- Brinkley Lane, Colchester, CO4 9PU
- Local authority
- Essex · Colchester
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources