Report card · inspected Apr 2026
- Exceptional
- Strong standard
- Expected standard
- Needs attention
- Urgent improvement
Safeguarding standards met
This schoolOther secondary schools in EssexSelective
What did Ofsted find?
Ofsted data to 30 September 2026| Area | Exceptional | Strong standard | Expected standard | Needs attention | Urgent improvement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inclusion | Strong standard | ||||
| Curriculum and teaching | Exceptional | ||||
| Achievement | Exceptional | ||||
| Attendance and behaviour | Strong standard | ||||
| Personal development and wellbeing | Strong standard | ||||
| Early years | Does not apply to this school | ||||
| Post-16 provision | Exceptional | ||||
| Leadership and governance | Exceptional | ||||
- Exceptional
- Strong standard
- Expected standard
- Needs attention
- Urgent improvement
- Does not apply
Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.
Inspection history
- 14 April 2026Report card · 4 Exceptional, 3 Strong standard
- 11 May 2021Graded inspection: Inadequate · as Colchester Royal Grammar School, URN 137814
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 entry804 applications · 128 places offered · 280 named it first
SelectiveApplications include children who did not pass the entrance test.
FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.
- 2026 6.3; Essex median median 2.8
- 2025 6.3; Essex median median 2.7
- 2024 5.1; Essex median median 2.8
- 2023 4.9; Essex median median 2.7; as the previous school
- 2022 4.5; Essex median median 2.7; as the previous school
- 2021 6.0; Essex median median 2.6; as the previous school
- 2020 4.7; Essex median median 2.8; as the previous school
- 2019 4.4; Essex median median 2.7; as the previous school
- 2018 4.3; Essex median median 2.6; as the previous school
- 2017 3.7; Essex median median 2.7; as the previous school
- 2016 4.1; Essex median median 2.6; as the previous school
- 2015 4.1; Essex median median 2.5; as the previous school
- 2014 4.8; Essex median median 2.6; as the previous school
- This school
- Essex median
Dashed bars: as Colchester Royal Grammar School (URN 137814), Colchester Royal Grammar School (URN 115359), the previous school.
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 | 128 | 804 | 6.3 | 280 | 2.19 |
| Sep 2025 | 124 | 780 | 6.3 | 274 | 2.21 |
| Sep 2024 | 125 | 631 | 5.1 | 226 | 1.81 |
| Sep 2023 * | 127 | 623 | 4.9 | 244 | 1.92 |
| Sep 2022 * | 126 | 566 | 4.5 | 207 | 1.64 |
| Sep 2021 * | 124 | 748 | 6.0 | 326 | 2.63 |
| Sep 2020 * | 127 | 598 | 4.7 | 242 | 1.91 |
| Sep 2019 * | 128 | 557 | 4.4 | 249 | 1.95 |
| Sep 2018 * | 120 | 517 | 4.3 | 225 | 1.88 |
| Sep 2017 * | 120 | 448 | 3.7 | 211 | 1.76 |
| Sep 2016 * | 116 | 477 | 4.1 | 229 | 1.97 |
| Sep 2015 * | 116 | 476 | 4.1 | 248 | 2.14 |
| Sep 2014 * | 95 | 451 | 4.8 | 228 | 2.40 |
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.) | 128 | 80.9 | 98% | 100% | – |
| 2024/25 | 128 | 82.1 | 100% | 100% | – |
| 2023/24 | 124 | 83.4 | 100% | 100% | +1.09 |
| 2022/23 | – |
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 Royal Grammar SchoolThis schoolThis schoolSerious weaknesses 20266.3applications per place 80.9Attainment 8 Selective
- 0.8 km · EssexRemains Good20234.4applications per place 58.4Attainment 8
- 0.8 km · EssexOutstanding20233.9applications per place 79.7Attainment 8 Selective
- 1.0 km · EssexGood20243.4applications per place 42.4Attainment 8
- 1.2 km · EssexGood20233.5applications per place 45.6Attainment 8
- 2.0 km · EssexGood20242.8applications per place 42.4Attainment 8
- 2.3 km · EssexStandards maintained20252.7applications per place 41.2Attainment 8
- 3.3 km · EssexRemains Good20233.1applications per place 48.3Attainment 8
- 3.7 km · EssexGood20231.5applications per place 35.3Attainment 8
School details
- Type
- Academy converter
- Phase
- Secondary
- URN · DfE number
- 149899 · 881/4036
- Admissions policy
- Selective
- Religious character
- Christian
- Capacity
- 777 pupils · 1,073 on roll
- Free school meals
- 4.7% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Opened
- 1 May 2023
- Replaced
- Colchester Royal Grammar School (URN 137814); Colchester Royal Grammar School (URN 115359)
- Address
- Lexden Road, Colchester, CO3 3ND
- Local authority
- Essex · Colchester
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources