SchoolScoresThe Trinity School
Free school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of ALPHA TRUST
Carris Close, Colchester, CO4 6ED
01206 700910 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 7 May 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
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 | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
109 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Colchester comparisons use the 8 of its 16 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 8 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 6th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Colchester. Higher than 33% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 77% | 82% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 6th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Colchester. Higher than 30% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 79% | 85% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 4th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Colchester. Higher than 47% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 77% | 78% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 39 parents whose child had been bullied 3rd highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Colchester. Higher than 77% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 59% | 50% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 90 parents who had raised a concern 6th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Colchester. Higher than 35% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 64% | 72% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 30 parents of children with SEND 4th highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Colchester. Higher than 33% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 53% | 66% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 5th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Colchester. Higher than 35% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 73%said yes | 78% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 18%). 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
No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.
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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 177 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 126 |
| Of those, offered a place | 116 (92%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 682 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 0.7
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 9th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Higher than 22% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 17.1% | 22.6%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 11th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Higher than 39% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.5% | 2.7%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 7th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Higher than 59% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 14.9% | 12.9%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 9th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Higher than 46% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 10.7% | 9.5%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 10th lowest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Lower than 48% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 8.5% | 8.6%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 7th lowest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Lower than 67% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 20.1% | 23.0%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 11th lowest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Lower than 50% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 14.4 | 18.4 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 9th lowest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Lower than 65% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 5.0% | 7.5% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded3 pupils | 0.50% | 0.18% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 2nd highest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Higher than 89% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 19.2 | 17.2 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 3rd highest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Higher than 83% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 13.5 | 12.9 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 6th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Colchester. Higher than 42% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 12.0% | 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
- The Gilberd School 0.0 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2018), confirmed 2025 · 58% grade 5+ English and maths
- Colchester Academy 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 31% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Helena School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 36% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Sixth Form College Colchester 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · C+ average A level grade
- Colchester Prep and High School 2.3 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Colchester Royal Grammar School 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 4 exceptional, 3 strong · 100% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Mary's School for Girls 2.5 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- St Benedict's Catholic College 2.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 62% grade 5+ English and maths
- Colchester County High School for Girls 2.8 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 100% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Trinity School's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 7 May 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
Would parents recommend The Trinity School?
73% of the 109 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend The Trinity School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is The Trinity School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 126 families put The Trinity School as their first choice for 177 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 116 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 143701.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.