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OpenSecondaryOfsted: ExceptionalURN 149899

Colchester Royal Grammar School

Academy converter · Colchester · CO3 3ND

Ages 11–18 · 1,073 pupils · Essex

School website

Ofsted

Exceptional

Attainment 8

83.4

Overall absence

5.2%

Admissions demand

1.88 · Competitive

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Exceptional

Inspection date

2026-04-14

Category of concern

SWK

  • AchievementExceptional
  • Curriculum and teachingExceptional
  • InclusionStrong standard
  • Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
  • Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
  • Leadership and governanceExceptional

Safeguarding standards: Met

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8+1.09
−20+2
Attainment 883.4
English & maths grade 5+100%
English & maths grade 4+100%
EBacc entry77%

EBacc APS: 8.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence5.2%
Persistent absence (10%+)16.0%
Unauthorised0.1%
Authorised absence
5.1%
Severe absence (50%+)
0.0%
Enrolments in measure
637

Absence trend

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

1.88 · Competitive

1st preferences

226

Places offered

125

1st-preference offers

74

Total preferences (any rank)
631
Preferred offers (top 3)
125
Applications from outside LA
236
Offers to outside-LA applicants
59
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Selective

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill120%

1,073 pupils · 777 places

Pupils on roll
1,073
Boys / girls
922 / 151
School capacity
777
Capacity fill
1,073 / 777 (138%)
Free school meals
4.7%
FSM pupils
30
Admissions policy
Selective
Gender
Boys
School type
Academy converter

Age range

Ages 11–18

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

2 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth formHas a sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Religious character
Christian
Governance
Academy trust: THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST
Academy trust
THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST
Sponsor
The Thinking Schools Academy Trust
Headteacher
Mr John Russell

Location

Address
Lexden Road
Postcode
CO3 3ND
Town
Colchester
Local authority
Essex
District
Colchester
Constituency
Colchester
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Boys academy converter (secondary), Ages 11–18, in Colchester, Essex, 1,073 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, academy, selective admissions. Free school meals: 4.7%. Religious character: Christian.

Open schools in Colchester
103
Secondary schools in Colchester
15
Academies among open schools in Colchester
43% (44)
Open schools in CO3
22
Secondary in CO3
6
Open schools in Essex LA
612
Secondary in Essex LA
79

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in ColchesterNear CO3

  • St Benedict's Catholic College

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Voluntary aided school · Secondary

    Colchester · CO3 3US · Essex

    Ages 11–16

    • Att853.5
    • P80.2
    • EM5+61%
    • Absence6.6%

    0.5 miles away

  • St Helena School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Colchester · CO3 3LE · Essex

    Ages 11–16

    • Att841.6
    • P8-0.3
    • EM5+32%
    • Absence7.3%

    0.6 miles away

  • Philip Morant School and College

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Colchester · CO3 4QS · Essex

    Ages 11–18

    • Att845.6
    • P8-0.1
    • EM5+48%
    • Absence7.3%

    0.7 miles away

  • Paxman Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Free schools · Secondary

    Colchester · CO2 9DB · Essex

    Ages 11–16

    • Att843.4
    • P8-0.2
    • EM5+41%
    • Absence7.3%

    1.2 miles away

  • The Thomas Lord Audley School

    Ofsted: Standards maintained

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Colchester · CO2 8NJ · Essex

    Ages 11–16

    • Att840.5
    • P8-0.1
    • EM5+38%
    • Absence8.1%

    1.4 miles away

  • The Stanway School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Colchester · CO3 0QA · Essex

    Ages 11–16

    • Att847.3
    • P80.1
    • EM5+48%
    • Absence7.2%

    2.0 miles away

  • Colchester Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Colchester · CO4 3JL · Essex

    Ages 11–16

    • Att834.9
    • P8-0.9
    • EM5+22%
    • Absence15.2%

    2.3 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mr John Russell
Telephone
01206509100
Website
www.crgs.co.uk

Official links