SchoolScoresColchester Royal Grammar School
Grammar school · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Boys only · Christian · Sixth form · Boarding
Part of THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST
Lexden Road, Colchester, CO3 3ND
01206 509100 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 14 April 2026 , published 16 June 2026.
In short: 4 exceptional, 3 strong, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Exceptional The highest of five grades. Ofsted judged this among the best nationally. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Exceptional The highest of five grades. Ofsted judged this among the best nationally. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Post-16 provisionSixth form or other study after 16. | Exceptional The highest of five grades. Ofsted judged this among the best nationally. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Exceptional The highest of five grades. Ofsted judged this among the best nationally. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
128 pupils in this year group.
100% — 57 points above the Essex average, and 55 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 100% | 43% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 82.1 | 45.1 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 7.8 | 4.0 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25
202 A level students in this year group.
| Measure | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average A level grade | A | C+ | B- |
| A level exams graded A* or A | 78% | 26% | 26% |
| A level exams graded A* to B | 96% | 54% | 53% |
| Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. | 51.3 | 34.7 | 35 |
A level subjects, 2024/25
23 subjects, 697 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.
| Subject | Exams | A* | A* or A | England A* or A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 157 | 55% | 89% | 40% |
| Chemistry | 92 | 36% | 74% | 30% |
| Physics | 74 | 24% | 68% | 31% |
| Mathematics (Further) | 70 | 47% | 76% | 59% |
| Economics | 67 | 33% | 64% | 26% |
| Biology | 65 | 46% | 82% | 27% |
| History | 29 | 24% | 83% | 23% |
| Computer Studies / Computing | 27 | 11% | 78% | 24% |
| English Literature | 21 | 29% | 67% | 23% |
| Geography | 16 | 44% | 88% | 23% |
| Religious Studies | 16 | 38% | 75% | 22% |
| French | 15 | 53% | 80% | 38% |
| Art and Design (Fine Art) | 8 | 100% | 100% | 38% |
| German | 7 | 43% | 100% | 42% |
| Classical Civilisation | 6 | 50% | 100% | 23% |
| Music | 6 | 33% | 100% | 29% |
| Physical Education / Sports Studies | 6 | 17% | 33% | 17% |
Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Design and Technology (Product Design), Latin, Spanish, Classical Greek, Italian, Japanese.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 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 secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about 2 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 128 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 280 |
| Of those, offered a place | 63 (23%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 804 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.8 · 2025: 2.2 · 2026: 2.2
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.
This is a Christian school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
This is a grammar school: places depend on passing an entrance test (the 11 plus), usually taken in September of Year 6.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 14th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Higher than 4% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 6.6% | 22.6%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 14th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Higher than 2% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 0.4% | 2.7%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 14th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Higher than 10% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 7.3% | 12.9%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 8th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Higher than 47% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 11.0% | 9.5%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 2nd lowest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Lower than 91% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 5.4% | 8.6%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 5th lowest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Lower than 75% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 18.2% | 23.0%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 2nd lowest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Lower than 92% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 2.5 | 18.4 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 2nd lowest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Lower than 88% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 2.3% | 7.5% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.18% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 12th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Higher than 50% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 16.8 | 17.2 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 1st highest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Higher than 93% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 14.6 | 12.9 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 5th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Higher than 53% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 13.8% | 13.3%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary 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.
Nearby secondary schools
- Colchester Prep and High School 0.1 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- St Mary's School for Girls 0.4 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- The Sixth Form College Colchester 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · C+ average A level grade
- St Benedict's Catholic College 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 62% grade 5+ English and maths
- Colchester County High School for Girls 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 100% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Helena School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 36% grade 5+ English and maths
- Philip Morant School and College 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 37% grade 5+ English and maths
- Paxman Academy 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 34% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Thomas Lord Audley School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), confirmed 2025 · 42% grade 5+ English and maths
- Holmwood House School 1.9 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Colchester Royal Grammar School's Ofsted rating?
Colchester Royal Grammar School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 14 April 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 4 exceptional, 3 strong, and safeguarding was met.
How did Colchester Royal Grammar School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 100% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 55 points above the England average of 45%.
Is Colchester Royal Grammar School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 280 families put Colchester Royal Grammar School as their first choice for 128 places: about 2 first-choice applications for every place. 63 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 149899.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, A levels 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.