UKSchoolSearch
Open, but proposed to closeOfsted: Not judgedURN 138122

Lift Columbus

Academy special converter · Chelmsford · CM1 4ZB

Ages 3–19 · 285 pupils · Essex

School website

Ofsted

Not judged

Overall absence

9.1%

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Not judged

Inspection date

2025-05-20

Category of concern

SWK

Overall effectiveness
Not judged
Quality of education
Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes
Requires improvement
Personal development
Requires improvement
Leadership and management
Inadequate
Safeguarding effective
No

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

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

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Key stage 2 (2023/24)

Expected standard (RWM)0%
Higher standard (RWM)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 absence9.1%
Persistent absence (10%+)28.2%
Unauthorised0.7%
Authorised absence
8.4%
Severe absence (50%+)
1.7%
Enrolments in measure
238

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill106%

285 pupils · 270 places

Pupils on roll
285
Boys / girls
193 / 92
School capacity
270
Capacity fill
285 / 270 (106%)
Free school meals
32.4%
FSM pupils
80
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy special converter

Age range

Ages 3–19

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

4 / 6

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

School characteristics

Governance
Academy trust: LIFT SCHOOLS
Academy trust
LIFT SCHOOLS
Sponsor
Lift Schools
Headteacher
Ms Michelle Hughes

Location

Address
Oliver Way
Postcode
CM1 4ZB
Town
Chelmsford
County
Essex
Local authority
Essex
District
Chelmsford
Constituency
Chelmsford
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

SEN & specialist provision

As recorded in GIAS — provision detail, not an Ofsted judgement.

SEN types
SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty; PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty

Local context

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

Mixed academy special converter, Ages 3–19, in Chelmsford, Essex, 285 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: nursery, sixth form, academy, special school. Free school meals: 32.4%. SEN provision includes: SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty; PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty.

Open schools in Chelmsford
84
Academies among open schools in Chelmsford
48% (40)
Open schools in CM1
33
Open schools in Essex LA
612

Nearby schools

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

Compare with theseAll in ChelmsfordNear CM1

  • Tanglewood Nursery School

    Ofsted: Standards maintained

    Local authority nursery school · Nursery

    Chelmsford · CM1 2DX · Essex

    Ages 2–5

    • FSM0.0%

    0.3 miles away

  • St Pius X Catholic Primary School

    Ofsted: Standards maintained

    Academy converter · Primary

    Chelmsford · CM1 4HY · Essex

    Ages 5–11

    • KS265%
    • Absence4.6%
    • FSM23.7%
    • Demand0.85

    0.3 miles away

  • Parkwood Academy

    Ofsted: Requires improvement

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Chelmsford · CM1 2DX · Essex

    Ages 3–11

    • KS237%
    • Absence5.6%
    • FSM44.9%
    • Demand0.90

    0.3 miles away

  • Kings Road Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Chelmsford · CM1 2BB · Essex

    Ages 4–11

    • KS263%
    • Absence7.6%
    • FSM34.0%
    • Demand0.78

    0.6 miles away

  • The Hawthorns School

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Free schools special

    Chelmsford · CM1 2XT · Essex

    Ages 7–16

    • Absence5.3%
    • FSM23.2%

    0.7 miles away

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

Contact

Headteacher
Ms Michelle Hughes
Telephone
01245491492
Website
www.columbusschoolandcollege.org

Official links