Lexden Springs School

Special academy · All-through, ages 3 to 19 · Mixed · Nursery class · Sixth form · Boarding

Part of HOPE LEARNING COMMUNITY

Winstree Road, Colchester, CO3 0PZ

01206 563321 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedInadequateInspected 30 January 2024, before conversion
Pupils301Room for 290 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 166 in 2019, 207 in 2021, 250 in 2022, 278 in 2023, 282 in 2024, 298 in 2025, 301 in 2026. Across England, special state school pupil numbers were up 39% from 2019 to 2025.
Free school meals63%of pupils eligible now

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Inadequate at the inspection that started on 30 January 2024. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

Category of concern: Serious weaknesses.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationRequires improvement
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementInadequate
Early yearsRequires improvement
Sixth formRequires improvement
SafeguardingNot effective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

48 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025.

StatementThis schoolEngland
My child is happy at this school 90% 88%
My child feels safe at this school 83% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 71% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 12 parents whose child had been bullied 17% 50%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 40 parents who had raised a concern 65% 76%
I would recommend this school to another parent 73%said yes 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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. 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. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25

MeasureThis schoolEssexEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths Not published 63% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths Not published 10% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading Not published 77% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing Not published 73% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths Not published 76% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. Not published 106 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. Not published 105 105

"Not published": No figure published.

Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 0%This school 2023/24: 0% This school England 62% 2022/23 0% 2023/24 0% 2024/25 –

Source: DfE key stage 2 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.

10 pupils in this year group.

These results were published under the school's previous registration (URN 115475), before it changed to its current form.

100% — 8 points above the Essex average, and 8 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolEssexEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 100% 92% 92%
School sixth form 0% 37% 34%
Sixth form college 0% 9% 13%
Further education college 0% 38% 37%
Apprenticeship 0% 3% 3%
Work 0% 3% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
91%100%

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.

Admissions dates and schools in Essex

Pupils, staff and SEND

This is a special school for children with an education, health and care plan (EHCP). Places are arranged through the council's SEND team, not the normal admissions round. It caters for: Severe learning difficulties; Profound and multiple learning difficulties.

PupilsThis schoolEssexEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 57.4% 45.9%* 51.9%
With an education, health and care plan 100.0% 99.6%* 99.5%
Receiving special educational needs support 0.0% 0.4%* 0.5%
English as an additional language 9.4% 4.3%* 14.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed) 8.6% 12.2%* 12.8%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 28.6% 34.5%* 35.3%
Suspensions per 100 pupils 0.0 9.8 12.3
Pupils suspended at least once 0.0% 4.5% 5.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.08% 0.08%
Pupils per teacher 8.1 7.1 6.6
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 2.0 2.4 2.3
Teachers who left during the year 14.2% 16.7%* 14.3%*

Comparisons are with special schools. * 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 special schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Lexden Springs School's Ofsted rating?

Lexden Springs School was rated Inadequate by Ofsted at its inspection in 30 January 2024.

Would parents recommend Lexden Springs School?

73% of the 48 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025 said they would recommend Lexden Springs School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.