SchoolScoresThe Stanway School
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of THE SIGMA TRUST
Winstree Road, Stanway, Colchester, CO3 0QA
01206 575488 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 1 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 7 June 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
272 pupils in this year group.
54% — 11 points above the Essex average, and 9 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 54% | 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. | 48.2 | 45.1 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.3 | 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.
282 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 | 7% | 37% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 44% | 9% | 13% |
| Further education college | 37% | 38% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 2% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 96% | 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 | 273 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 254 |
| Of those, offered a place | 246 (97%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 844 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 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 12th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Higher than 16% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 14.7% | 22.6%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 8th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Higher than 50% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 3.0% | 2.7%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 12th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Higher than 20% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 9.6% | 12.9%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 10th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Higher than 21% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.7% | 9.5%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 5th lowest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Lower than 67% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 7.4% | 8.6%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 4th lowest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Lower than 80% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 16.8% | 23.0%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 9th lowest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Lower than 55% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.7 | 18.4 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 7th lowest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Lower than 67% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 4.8% | 7.5% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded5 pupils | 0.36% | 0.18% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 7th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Higher than 71% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 17.8 | 17.2 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 5th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Higher than 74% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.9 | 12.9 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 7th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Higher than 39% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 11.6% | 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
- Holmwood House School 0.8 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Philip Morant School and College 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 37% grade 5+ English and maths
- Paxman Academy 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 34% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Benedict's Catholic College 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 62% grade 5+ English and maths
- Colchester County High School for Girls 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 100% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Mary's School for Girls 1.7 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Colchester Royal Grammar School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 4 exceptional, 3 strong · 100% grade 5+ English and maths
- Colchester Prep and High School 2.2 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- St Helena School 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 36% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Sixth Form College Colchester 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · C+ average A level grade
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Stanway School's Ofsted rating?
The Stanway School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 1 May 2013. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 7 June 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did The Stanway School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 54% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 9 points above the England average of 45%.
Is The Stanway School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 254 families put The Stanway School as their first choice for 273 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 246 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 137927.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.