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OpenSecondaryOfsted: GoodURN 147080

Paxman Academy

Free schools · Colchester · CO2 9DB

Ages 11–16 · 873 pupils · Essex

School website

Ofsted

Good

Attainment 8

43.4

Overall absence

7.3%

Admissions demand

0.89 · Often has places

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Good

Inspection date

2024-02-06

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
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 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8-0.17
−20+2
Attainment 843.4
English & maths grade 5+41%
English & maths grade 4+59%
EBacc entry49%

EBacc APS: 3.9

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

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

Overall absence7.3%
Persistent absence (10%+)19.6%
Unauthorised3.2%
Authorised absence
4.1%
Severe absence (50%+)
3.9%
Enrolments in measure
950

Absence trend

2021/22

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

0.89 · Often has places

1st preferences

131

Places offered

153

1st-preference offers

131

Total preferences (any rank)
517
Preferred offers (top 3)
150
Applications from outside LA
1
Offers to outside-LA applicants
0
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-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 fill97%

873 pupils · 900 places

Pupils on roll
873
Boys / girls
462 / 411
School capacity
900
Capacity fill
873 / 900 (97%)
Free school meals
33.3%
FSM pupils
291
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Free schools

Age range

Ages 11–16

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

0 / 6

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

School characteristics

Governance
Academy trust: THE SIGMA TRUST
Academy trust
THE SIGMA TRUST
Sponsor
The Sigma Trust
Headteacher
Mrs Debbie Kershaw

Location

Address
Paxman Avenue
Postcode
CO2 9DB
Town
Colchester
County
Essex
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.

Mixed free schools (secondary), Ages 11–16, in Colchester, Essex, 873 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 33.3%.

Open schools in Colchester
103
Secondary schools in Colchester
15
Academies among open schools in Colchester
43% (44)
Open schools in CO2
16
Secondary in CO2
2
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 CO2

  • 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%

    0.6 miles away

  • 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%

    0.9 miles away

  • Colchester Royal Grammar School

    Ofsted: Exceptional

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Colchester · CO3 3ND · Essex

    Ages 11–18

    • Att883.4
    • P81.1
    • EM5+100%
    • Absence5.2%

    1.2 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%

    1.4 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%

    1.5 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%

    1.8 miles away

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

Contact

Headteacher
Mrs Debbie Kershaw
Telephone
01206413813
Website
www.paxmanacademy.school

Official links