SchoolScoresSt John's CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Colchester
Voluntary controlled school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England
Clay Lane Grove, St Johns C of E Primary School, Colchester, CO4 0HH
01206 841288 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 22 May 2013.
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 |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 5 October 2022: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
32 pupils in this year group.
72% — 9 points above the Essex average, and 10 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 72% | 63% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 16% | 10% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 88% | 77% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 72% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 78% | 76% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 108 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 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 | 30 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 31 |
| Of those, offered a place | 29 (94%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 99 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.3 · 2026: 1.0
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 Church of England school, but as a voluntary controlled school its admissions are set by the council, which usually doesn't prioritise by faith. Check the council's admissions criteria.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 56th highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 22% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 11.4% | 21.7%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 17th highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 57% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.3% | 2.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 54th highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 23% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 10.5% | 13.9%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 31st highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 58% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 13.3% | 12.2%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 7th lowest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Lower than 87% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.7% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 6th lowest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Lower than 89% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.3% | 13.0%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 32nd lowest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Lower than 44% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.4 | 3.3 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 24th lowest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Lower than 58% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.5% | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 17th highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 85% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 23.9 | 21.9 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 5th highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 92% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 14.0 | 11.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 60th highest of 71 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 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.
Nearby primary schools
- Highwoods Community Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed, may be improving 2024 · 78% met expected standard (KS2)
- Friars Grove Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 59% met expected standard (KS2)
- Brinkley Grove Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), some aspects weaker 2024 · 76% met expected standard (KS2)
- Parsons Heath CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 47% met expected standard (KS2)
- Willow Brook Primary School and Nursery 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 50% met expected standard (KS2)
- Roach Vale Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hazelmere Junior School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 38% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hazelmere Infant School and Nursery 1.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
- Queen Boudica Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
- Camulos Academy 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 80% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St John's CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Colchester's Ofsted rating?
St John's CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Colchester was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 22 May 2013. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 5 October 2022, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did St John's CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Colchester do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 72% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 10 points above the England average of 62%.
Is St John's CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Colchester oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 31 families put St John's CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Colchester as their first choice for 30 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 29 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 115065.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 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.