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OpenPrimaryOfsted: GoodURN 115076

Dedham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Voluntary controlled school · Colchester · CO7 6BZ

Ages 4–11 · 202 pupils · Essex

School website

Ofsted

Good

KS2 expected (RWM)

64%

Overall absence

4.4%

Admissions demand

1.03 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Good

Inspection date

2024-06-04

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

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

Key stage 2 (2023/24)

Expected standard (RWM)64%
Higher standard (RWM)11%
Avg scaled score — reading
106.0
Avg scaled score — maths
105.0
Avg scaled score — GPS
106.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

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

Overall absence4.4%
Persistent absence (10%+)7.3%
Unauthorised0.5%
Authorised absence
3.8%
Severe absence (50%+)
0.6%
Enrolments in measure
177

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for primary 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

1.03 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

32

Places offered

31

1st-preference offers

28

Total preferences (any rank)
74
Preferred offers (top 3)
31
Applications from outside LA
18
Offers to outside-LA applicants
3

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 fill96%

202 pupils · 210 places

Pupils on roll
202
Boys / girls
97 / 105
School capacity
210
Capacity fill
202 / 210 (96%)
Free school meals
8.4%
FSM pupils
17
Gender
Mixed
School type
Voluntary controlled school

Age range

Ages 4–11

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

0 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Religious character
Church of England
Diocese
Diocese of Chelmsford
Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Voluntary controlled school
Headteacher
Mrs Gemma Chester

Location

Address
Parson's Field, Dedham
Postcode
CO7 6BZ
Town
Colchester
County
Essex
Local authority
Essex
District
Colchester
Constituency
Harwich and North Essex
Urban/rural
Smaller rural: 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.

Mixed voluntary controlled school (primary), Ages 4–11, in Colchester, Essex, 202 pupils on roll. Free school meals: 8.4%. Religious character: Church of England. Diocese: Diocese of Chelmsford.

Open schools in Colchester
103
Primary schools in Colchester
73
Academies among open schools in Colchester
43% (44)
Open schools in CO7
15
Primary in CO7
12
Open schools in Essex LA
612
Primary in Essex LA
444

Nearby primary schools

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

Compare with theseAll in ColchesterNear CO7

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

Contact

Headteacher
Mrs Gemma Chester
Telephone
01206322242
Website
http://www.dedham.essex.sch.uk

Official links