SchoolScoresColne Community School
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of THE SIGMA TRUST
Church Road, Brightlingsea, Colchester, CO7 0QL
01206 303511 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 27 June 2023.
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 |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
242 pupils in this year group.
40% — 3 points below the Essex average, and 6 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 40% | 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. | 43 | 45.1 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.6 | 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.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
237 pupils in this year group.
93% — about the same as the Essex average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 93% | 92% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 5% | 37% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 44% | 9% | 13% |
| Further education college | 39% | 38% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 2% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 2% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 91% | 93% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. 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 one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 256 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 234 |
| Of those, offered a place | 234 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 330 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 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
| Pupils | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 6th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Higher than 33% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 20.9% | 22.6%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 6th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Higher than 55% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 3.1% | 2.7%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 10th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Higher than 34% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 11.7% | 12.9%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 12th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Higher than 15% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 3.7% | 9.5%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 11th lowest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Lower than 47% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 8.5% | 8.6%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 11th lowest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Lower than 55% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 22.5% | 23.0%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 4th lowest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Lower than 79% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 6.2 | 18.4 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 4th lowest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Lower than 82% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 3.1% | 7.5% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded3 pupils | 0.23% | 0.18% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 5th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Higher than 78% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 18.2 | 17.2 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 11th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Higher than 64% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.4 | 12.9 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 13th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Higher than 20% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 8.5% | 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.
Questions parents ask
What is Colne Community School's Ofsted rating?
Colne Community School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 27 June 2023.
How did Colne Community School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 40% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 6 points below the England average of 45%.
Is Colne Community School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 234 families put Colne Community School as their first choice for 256 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 234 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 146795.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.