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Academy converter · Essex

The Stanway School

  • 11–16Ages
  • 1,396Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • 137927URN

Winstree Road, Stanway, Colchester, CO3 0QA · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted
Graded GoodMay 2013
School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Jun 2023
What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
3.1per place
0.3 above Essex median (2.8)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in EssexSelective

844 applications for 273 places · 33rd of 78 in Essex
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
48.3of 90
24th of 79 in Essex
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Graded GoodMay 2013
School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Jun 2023

Inspection history

  1. 7 June 2023
    Ungraded inspection: School remains Good
  2. 1 May 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
3.1applications per place, Year 7
0.3 above Essex median (2.8) 0.9 above England median (2.2)

844 applications · 273 places offered · 254 named it first

  1. 2026 3.1; Essex median median 2.8
  2. 2025 3.3; Essex median median 2.7
  3. 2024 3.1; Essex median median 2.8
  4. 2023 3.5; Essex median median 2.7
  5. 2022 3.1; Essex median median 2.7
  6. 2021 3.3; Essex median median 2.6
  7. 2020 3.2; Essex median median 2.8
  8. 2019 3.3; Essex median median 2.7
  9. 2018 3.3; Essex median median 2.6
  10. 2017 3.5; Essex median median 2.7
  11. 2016 4.3; Essex median median 2.6
  12. 2015 4.1; Essex median median 2.5
  13. 2014 4.1; Essex median median 2.6
More applications per place than the Essex median in 13 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.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20262738443.12540.93
Sep 20252728903.32490.92
Sep 20242768493.12460.89
Sep 20232769633.53221.17
Sep 20222788483.12670.96
Sep 20212738873.32891.06
Sep 20202778803.22620.95
Sep 20192739043.33291.21
Sep 20182789233.33041.09
Sep 20172659203.52370.89
Sep 20162159214.32411.12
Sep 20152209004.12571.17
Sep 20142188834.12741.26

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

279 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)48.324th of 79 in Essex
Grade 5 or above in English and maths52%22nd of 79 in Essex
Grade 4 or above in English and maths74%
  • This school
  • Essex median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.07
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)27948.352%74%–
2024/2527248.254%74%–
2023/2427947.348%70%+0.07
2022/2328246.445%70%+0.13

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

  • 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
137927 · 881/5462
Trust
The Sigma Trust
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Capacity
1,400 pupils · 1,396 on roll
Free school meals
16.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 March 2012
Replaced
The Stanway School (URN 115378)
Address
Winstree Road, Stanway, Colchester, CO3 0QA
Local authority
Essex · Colchester

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