This schoolOther secondary schools in EssexSelective
What did Ofsted find?
Ofsted data to 30 September 2026Inspection history
- 26 March 2025Ungraded inspection: Standards maintained
- 21 April 2016Graded 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 entry494 applications · 185 places offered · 241 named it first
- 2026 2.7; Essex median median 2.8
- 2025 2.3; Essex median median 2.7
- 2024 1.9; Essex median median 2.8
- 2023 2.1; Essex median median 2.7
- 2022 2.2; Essex median median 2.7
- 2021 1.9; Essex median median 2.6
- 2020 2.1; Essex median median 2.8
- 2019 1.8; Essex median median 2.7
- 2018 1.9; Essex median median 2.6
- 2017 1.9; Essex median median 2.7
- 2016 1.9; Essex median median 2.6
- 2015 1.7; Essex median median 2.5
- 2014 2.0; 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 | 185 | 494 | 2.7 | 241 | 1.30 |
| Sep 2025 | 191 | 440 | 2.3 | 223 | 1.17 |
| Sep 2024 | 194 | 364 | 1.9 | 179 | 0.92 |
| Sep 2023 | 189 | 393 | 2.1 | 180 | 0.95 |
| Sep 2022 | 162 | 361 | 2.2 | 201 | 1.24 |
| Sep 2021 | 168 | 315 | 1.9 | 149 | 0.89 |
| Sep 2020 | 165 | 341 | 2.1 | 157 | 0.95 |
| Sep 2019 | 165 | 288 | 1.8 | 175 | 1.06 |
| Sep 2018 | 147 | 272 | 1.9 | 128 | 0.87 |
| Sep 2017 | 166 | 310 | 1.9 | 152 | 0.92 |
| Sep 2016 | 153 | 293 | 1.9 | 151 | 0.99 |
| Sep 2015 | 152 | 255 | 1.7 | 130 | 0.86 |
| Sep 2014 | 165 | 326 | 2.0 | 144 | 0.87 |
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.) | 171 | 41.2 | 35% | 51% | – |
| 2024/25 | 167 | 42.3 | 42% | 61% | – |
| 2023/24 | 165 | 40.5 | 38% | 57% | −0.13 |
| 2022/23 | 166 | 38.8 | 34% | 51% | −0.36 |
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 Thomas Lord Audley SchoolThis schoolThis schoolStandards maintained20252.7applications per place 41.2Attainment 8
- 2.3 km · EssexSerious weaknesses 20266.3applications per place 80.9Attainment 8 Selective
- 2.4 km · EssexGood20242.8applications per place 42.4Attainment 8
- 2.5 km · EssexGood20233.5applications per place 45.6Attainment 8
- 2.6 km · EssexRemains Good20234.4applications per place 58.4Attainment 8
- 2.6 km · EssexOutstanding20233.9applications per place 79.7Attainment 8 Selective
- 3.1 km · EssexGood20243.4applications per place 42.4Attainment 8
- 3.8 km · EssexGood20231.5applications per place 35.3Attainment 8
- 4.6 km · EssexRemains Good20233.1applications per place 48.3Attainment 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
- 137937 · 881/4020
- Trust
- The Sigma Trust
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Capacity
- 840 pupils · 940 on roll
- Free school meals
- 30.4% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Opened
- 1 March 2012
- Replaced
- The Thomas Lord Audley School (URN 115207)
- Address
- Monkwick Avenue, Monkwick, Colchester, CO2 8NJ
- Local authority
- Essex · Colchester
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources