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OpenSecondaryOfsted: Standards maintainedURN 137937

The Thomas Lord Audley School

Academy converter · Colchester · CO2 8NJ

Ages 11–16 · 940 pupils · Essex

School website

Ofsted

Standards maintained

Attainment 8

40.5

Overall absence

8.1%

Admissions demand

0.95 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Standards maintained

Inspection date

2025-05-11

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

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

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8-0.13
−20+2
Attainment 840.5
English & maths grade 5+38%
English & maths grade 4+57%
EBacc entry24%

EBacc APS: 3.5

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

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

Overall absence8.1%
Persistent absence (10%+)21.2%
Unauthorised3.1%
Authorised absence
5.0%
Severe absence (50%+)
3.5%
Enrolments in measure
919

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

0.95 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

179

Places offered

194

1st-preference offers

179

Total preferences (any rank)
364
Preferred offers (top 3)
189
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 fill112%

940 pupils · 840 places

Pupils on roll
940
Boys / girls
498 / 442
School capacity
840
Capacity fill
940 / 840 (112%)
Free school meals
30.4%
FSM pupils
285
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy converter

Age range

Ages 11–16

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

2 / 6

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

School characteristics

Special classes
Has Special Classes
Governance
Academy trust: THE SIGMA TRUST
Academy trust
THE SIGMA TRUST
Sponsor
The Sigma Trust
Headteacher
Mr Simon Essex

Location

Address
Monkwick Avenue, Monkwick
Postcode
CO2 8NJ
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 converter (secondary), Ages 11–16, in Colchester, Essex, 940 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: academy, special school, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 30.4%.

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

  • Colchester Royal Grammar School

    Ofsted: Exceptional

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Colchester · CO3 3ND · Essex

    Ages 11–18

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

    1.4 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%

    1.5 miles away

  • 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%

    1.6 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%

    1.6 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%

    1.9 miles away

  • Colchester Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Colchester · CO4 3JL · Essex

    Ages 11–16

    • Att834.9
    • P8-0.9
    • EM5+22%
    • Absence15.2%

    2.4 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%

    2.9 miles away

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

Contact

Headteacher
Mr Simon Essex
Telephone
01206547911
Website
http://www.tla.essex.sch.uk

Official links