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OpenSecondaryOfsted: School remains GoodURN 115382

St Benedict's Catholic College

Voluntary aided school · Colchester · CO3 3US

Ages 11–16 · 905 pupils · Essex

School website

Ofsted

School remains Good

Attainment 8

53.5

Overall absence

6.6%

Admissions demand

1.15 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

School remains Good

Inspection date

2023-09-25

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+0.23
−20+2
Attainment 853.5
English & maths grade 5+61%
English & maths grade 4+82%
EBacc entry46%

EBacc APS: 4.7

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

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

Overall absence6.6%
Persistent absence (10%+)16.4%
Unauthorised1.0%
Authorised absence
5.6%
Severe absence (50%+)
2.0%
Enrolments in measure
917

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

1.15 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

203

Places offered

178

1st-preference offers

141

Total preferences (any rank)
772
Preferred offers (top 3)
178
Applications from outside LA
6
Offers to outside-LA applicants
2
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 fill103%

905 pupils · 876 places

Pupils on roll
905
Boys / girls
479 / 426
School capacity
876
Capacity fill
905 / 876 (103%)
Free school meals
9.4%
FSM pupils
85
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Voluntary aided school

Age range

Ages 11–16

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

0 / 6

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

School characteristics

Religious character
Roman Catholic
Diocese
Diocese of Brentwood
Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Voluntary aided school
Headteacher
Mrs J E Santinelli

Location

Address
Norman Way
Postcode
CO3 3US
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 voluntary aided school (secondary), Ages 11–16, in Colchester, Essex, 905 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 9.4%. Religious character: Roman Catholic. Diocese: Diocese of Brentwood.

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

  • 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%

    0.3 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%

    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%

    0.9 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%

    0.9 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%

    1.5 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%

    1.6 miles away

  • The Gilberd School

    Ofsted: Standards maintained

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Colchester · CO4 9PU · Essex

    Ages 11–16

    • Att851.5
    • P80.4
    • EM5+55%
    • Absence7.3%

    2.8 miles away

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

Contact

Headteacher
Mrs J E Santinelli
Telephone
01206549222
Website
http://www.stbenedicts.essex.sch.uk/

Official links