SchoolScoresCherry Tree Academy
Academy · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed
Part of INSPIRES MAT
Holt Drive, Mersea Road, Colchester, CO2 0BG
01206 575224 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 2 February 2022.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
19 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
Colchester comparisons use the 4 of its 73 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 69 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Colchester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 4th highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Colchester. Higher than 22% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84% | 96% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school 4th highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Colchester. Higher than 20% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84% | 96% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 4th highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Colchester. Higher than 41% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84% | 93% | 78% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 19 parents who had raised a concern 4th highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Colchester. Higher than 29% of 1,062 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 74% | 87% | 74% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 4th highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Colchester. Higher than 27% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84%said yes | 97% | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 11%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Colchester figures pool parents at the Colchester schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
29 pupils in this year group.
79% — 16 points above the Essex average, and 17 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 79% | 63% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 7% | 10% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 83% | 77% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 83% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 86% | 76% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 105 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Essex. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 15 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 14 |
| Of those, offered a place | 14 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 32 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.8 · 2026: 0.9
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 8 places for speech, language and communication needs. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 10th highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 74% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 35.1% | 21.7%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 12th highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 70% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.1% | 2.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 17th highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 81% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 19.9% | 13.9%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 34th highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 55% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 11.7% | 12.2%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 63rd lowest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Lower than 17% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.5% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 68th lowest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Lower than 12% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 20.9% | 13.0%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 30th lowest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Lower than 48% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.2 | 3.3 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 39th lowest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Lower than 34% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.2% | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 70th highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 15% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 16.7 | 21.9 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 67th highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 15% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 8.5 | 11.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 49th highest of 71 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 32% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 8.2% | 13.5%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby primary schools
- Monkwick Infant and Nursery School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2025
- Monkwick Junior School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 54% met expected standard (KS2)
- Old Heath Community Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 4 expected, 2 needs attention · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- Montgomery Primary School, Colchester 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), improved significantly 2025 · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Lawrence CofE Primary School, Rowhedge 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2024 · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Michael's Primary School and Nursery, Colchester 1.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Kendall CofE Primary School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- St George's School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Fingringhoe CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 54% met expected standard (KS2)
- Langenhoe Community Primary School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023, before conversion) · 78% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Cherry Tree Academy's Ofsted rating?
Cherry Tree Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 2 February 2022.
How did Cherry Tree Academy do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 79% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 17 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Cherry Tree Academy?
84% of the 19 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Cherry Tree Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Cherry Tree Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 14 families put Cherry Tree Academy as their first choice for 15 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 14 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 142002.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.