SchoolScoresSt Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester
Academy · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Catholic
Part of THE ROSARY TRUST - A CATHOLIC MULTI ACADEMY
Priory Street, Colchester, CO1 2QB
01206 865722 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 7 November 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 | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
97 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
Colchester comparisons use the 37 of its 73 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 36 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 Joint 16th highest of 37 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Colchester. Higher than 62% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97% | 94% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 9th highest of 37 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Colchester. Higher than 76% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 99% | 95% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 7th highest of 37 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Colchester. Higher than 73% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96% | 90% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 26 parents whose child had been bullied 23rd highest of 27 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Colchester. Higher than 14% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 38% | 54% | 49% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 58 parents who had raised a concern Joint 14th highest of 34 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Colchester. Higher than 58% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 86% | 83% | 75% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 20th highest of 37 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Colchester. Higher than 52% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92%said yes | 90% | 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. 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. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
30 pupils in this year group.
93% — 30 points above the Essex average, and 31 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 93% | 63% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 23% | 10% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 100% | 77% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 97% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 97% | 76% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 113 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 109 | 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 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 31 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 39 |
| Of those, offered a place | 29 (74%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 81 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.3 · 2025: 1.1 · 2026: 1.3
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 Catholic 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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 71st highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 3% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.4% | 21.7%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 68th highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 9% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.0% | 2.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 57th highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 21% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 10.2% | 13.9%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 4th highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 82% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 35.1% | 12.2%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) Joint 25th lowest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Lower than 61% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.6% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 21st lowest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Lower than 69% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 8.7% | 13.0%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 22nd lowest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Lower than 61% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.5 | 3.3 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 25th lowest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Lower than 57% 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 54th highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 44% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 20.1 | 21.9 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 10th highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 86% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 13.3 | 11.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 56th highest of 71 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 20% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 4.0% | 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
- St James the Great CofE Primary School 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2025 · 48% met expected standard (KS2)
- St John's Green Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023 · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
- St George's School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- North Primary School and Nursery 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2023 · 47% met expected standard (KS2)
- Willow Brook Primary School and Nursery 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 50% met expected standard (KS2)
- Kendall CofE Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hamilton Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 79% met expected standard (KS2)
- Unity Primary Academy 1.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- Friars Grove Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 59% met expected standard (KS2)
- Queen Boudica Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester's Ofsted rating?
St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 7 November 2023.
How did St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 93% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 31 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester?
92% of the 97 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 39 families put St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester as their first choice for 31 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications 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 138164.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 4 September 2023 to 2 September 2024.
- 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.