UKSchoolSearch
OpenPrimaryOfsted: Not judgedURN 115144

The Bishop William Ward Church of England Primary School

Voluntary aided school · Colchester · CO6 4AT

Ages 4–11 · 203 pupils · Essex

School website

Ofsted

Not judged

KS2 expected (RWM)

53%

Overall absence

6.3%

Admissions demand

0.92 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Not judged

Inspection date

2025-03-04

Overall effectiveness
Not judged
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)53%
Higher standard (RWM)10%
Avg scaled score — reading
106.0
Avg scaled score — maths
103.0
Avg scaled score — GPS
105.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

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

Overall absence6.3%
Persistent absence (10%+)16.3%
Unauthorised1.3%
Authorised absence
5.1%
Severe absence (50%+)
1.1%
Enrolments in measure
184

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

0.92 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

24

Places offered

26

1st-preference offers

24

Total preferences (any rank)
54
Preferred offers (top 3)
26
Applications from outside LA
0
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 fill97%

203 pupils · 210 places

Pupils on roll
203
Boys / girls
117 / 86
School capacity
210
Capacity fill
203 / 210 (97%)
Free school meals
17.2%
FSM pupils
35
Gender
Mixed
School type
Voluntary aided 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 aided school
Headteacher
Mr Toby Bull

Location

Address
Coach Road, Great Horkesley
Postcode
CO6 4AT
Town
Colchester
County
Essex
Local authority
Essex
District
Colchester
Constituency
Harwich and North Essex
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 (primary), Ages 4–11, in Colchester, Essex, 203 pupils on roll. Free school meals: 17.2%. 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 CO6
16
Primary in CO6
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 CO6

  • Myland Community Primary School

    Ofsted: Improved significantly

    Community school · Primary

    Colchester · CO4 5LD · Essex

    Ages 5–11

    • KS273%
    • Absence4.5%
    • FSM8.5%
    • Demand0.98

    1.3 miles away

  • Camulos Academy

    Ofsted: Standards maintained

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Colchester · CO4 6AL · Essex

    Ages 4–11

    • KS272%
    • Absence4.7%
    • FSM16.7%
    • Demand0.98

    1.3 miles away

  • Braiswick Primary School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Colchester · CO4 5QJ · Essex

    Ages 4–11

    • KS267%
    • Absence4.6%
    • FSM15.0%
    • Demand0.91

    1.5 miles away

  • Queen Boudica Primary School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Primary

    Colchester · CO4 5XT · Essex

    Ages 4–11

    • KS268%
    • Absence4.9%
    • FSM16.6%
    • Demand1.00

    1.8 miles away

  • Brinkley Grove Primary School

    Ofsted: Some aspects not as strong

    Foundation school · Primary

    Colchester · CO4 9GF · Essex

    Ages 5–11

    • KS275%
    • Absence5.9%
    • FSM24.8%
    • Demand0.96

    2.1 miles away

  • Highwoods Community Primary School

    Ofsted: School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next

    Academy converter · Primary

    Colchester · CO4 9SN · Essex

    Ages 4–11

    • KS281%
    • Absence4.5%
    • FSM17.2%
    • Demand1.07

    2.1 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

    2.3 miles away

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

Contact

Headteacher
Mr Toby Bull
Telephone
01206271336
Website
http://www.bishopwilliamward.net

Official links