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OpenPrimaryOfsted: GoodURN 143516

St James the Great Church of England Primary School

Academy sponsor led · Colchester · CO1 2RA

Ages 2–11 · 438 pupils · Essex

School website

Ofsted

Good

KS2 expected (RWM)

40%

Overall absence

5.8%

Admissions demand

0.84 · Often has places

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Good

Inspection date

2019-09-18

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 2 (2023/24)

Expected standard (RWM)40%
Higher standard (RWM)2%
Avg scaled score — reading
103.0
Avg scaled score — maths
100.0
Avg scaled score — GPS
101.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

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

Overall absence5.8%
Persistent absence (10%+)13.5%
Unauthorised1.7%
Authorised absence
4.1%
Severe absence (50%+)
1.0%
Enrolments in measure
384

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

0.84 · Often has places

1st preferences

31

Places offered

37

1st-preference offers

31

Total preferences (any rank)
75
Preferred offers (top 3)
37
Applications from outside LA
1
Offers to outside-LA applicants
0

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 fill104%

438 pupils · 420 places

Pupils on roll
438
Boys / girls
213 / 225
School capacity
420
Capacity fill
438 / 420 (104%)
Free school meals
22.7%
FSM pupils
92
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy sponsor led

Age range

Ages 2–11

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

2 / 6

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

School characteristics

Religious character
Church of England
Religious ethos
Church of England
Diocese
Diocese of Chelmsford
Governance
Academy trust: THE DIOCESE OF CHELMSFORD VINE SCHOOLS TRUST
Academy trust
THE DIOCESE OF CHELMSFORD VINE SCHOOLS TRUST
Sponsor
Diocese of Chelmsford
Headteacher
Lucy Turner

Location

Address
Guildford Road
Postcode
CO1 2RA
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 academy sponsor led (primary), Ages 2–11, in Colchester, Essex, 438 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: nursery, academy. Free school meals: 22.7%. 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 CO1
5
Primary in CO1
4
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 CO1

  • St John's Green Primary School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Primary

    Colchester · CO2 7HE · Essex

    Ages 5–11

    • KS267%
    • Absence4.4%
    • FSM21.5%
    • Demand0.87

    0.7 miles away

  • North Primary School and Nursery

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Primary

    Colchester · CO1 1RP · Essex

    Ages 3–11

    • KS252%
    • Absence6.1%
    • FSM19.1%
    • Demand0.85

    0.8 miles away

  • St. George's School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Primary

    Colchester · CO2 7RU · Essex

    Ages 3–11

    • KS256%
    • Absence7.3%
    • FSM33.6%
    • Demand0.88

    0.9 miles away

  • Friars Grove Primary School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Primary

    Colchester · CO4 0PZ · Essex

    Ages 5–11

    • KS248%
    • Absence4.7%
    • FSM19.1%
    • Demand1.00

    1.0 miles away

  • Unity Primary Academy

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Colchester · CO4 3QJ · Essex

    Ages 3–11

    • KS262%
    • Absence6.6%
    • FSM51.0%
    • Demand0.97

    1.0 miles away

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

Contact

Headteacher
Lucy Turner
Telephone
01206865747
Website
www.st-james-colchester-essex.co.uk

Official links