Academy converter · Essex

St Helena School

11–16Ages
986Pupils
SecondaryPhase
137944URN

Sheepen Road, Colchester, CO3 3LE · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jan 2024 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

3.4per place

0.5 above Essex median (2.8)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in EssexSelective

601 applications for 178 places · 25th of 78 in Essex

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

42.4of 90

Essex 45.6 England 46.0

51st of 79 in Essex

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 30 January 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management	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 entry

3.4applications per place, Year 7

0.5 above Essex median (2.8) 1.1 above England median (2.2)

601 applications · 178 places offered · 116 named it first

2026 3.4; Essex median median 2.8
2025 3.1; Essex median median 2.7
2024 3.5; Essex median median 2.8
2023 3.2; Essex median median 2.7
2022 2.9; Essex median median 2.7
2021 2.8; Essex median median 2.6
2020 3.0; Essex median median 2.8
2019 3.0; Essex median median 2.7
2018 3.1; Essex median median 2.6
2017 3.1; Essex median median 2.7
2016 3.0; Essex median median 2.6
2015 2.5; Essex median median 2.5
2014 2.2; 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	178	601	3.4	116	0.65
Sep 2025	186	571	3.1	122	0.66
Sep 2024	175	619	3.5	131	0.75
Sep 2023	194	614	3.2	143	0.74
Sep 2022	195	566	2.9	137	0.70
Sep 2021	199	555	2.8	136	0.68
Sep 2020	198	602	3.0	141	0.71
Sep 2019	195	584	3.0	178	0.91
Sep 2018	197	607	3.1	186	0.94
Sep 2017	199	616	3.1	185	0.93
Sep 2016	188	559	3.0	137	0.73
Sep 2015	197	485	2.5	133	0.68
Sep 2014	199	431	2.2	114	0.57

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

197 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)42.451st of 79 in Essex

Essex 45.6 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths36%58th of 79 in Essex

Essex 43% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths56%

Essex 66% England 66%

This school
Essex median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.31

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	197	42.4	36%	56%	–
2024/25	204	46.0	36%	60%	–
2023/24	196	41.6	32%	56%	−0.31
2022/23	190	42.2	33%	58%	−0.18

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

St Helena SchoolThis school
This school

Good2024

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

Serious weaknesses 2026

6.3applications per place 80.9Attainment 8 Selective
St Benedict's Catholic College
1.4 km · Essex

Remains Good2023

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

Outstanding2023

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

Good2023

3.5applications per place 45.6Attainment 8
Paxman Academy
2.9 km · Essex

Good2024

2.8applications per place 42.4Attainment 8
The Gilberd School
3.0 km · Essex

Standards maintained2025

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

Graded · no overall grade2025

3.9applications per place 49.6Attainment 8
The Thomas Lord Audley School
3.1 km · Essex

Standards maintained2025

2.7applications 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: 137944 · 881/5448
Trust: The Sigma Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,000 pupils · 986 on roll
Free school meals: 33.5% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 March 2012
Replaced: St Helena School (URN 115364)
Address: Sheepen Road, Colchester, CO3 3LE
Local authority: Essex · Colchester

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