Overall Oxbridge
#198
3 ranked schools · +716 places vs Eng avg #914 of 1,983
Applications
159
Offers
42
Offer rate26.4%
+4.0 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 22.4%
Schools in Colchester
The site of Camulodunum, the first major Roman capital in Britain, Colchester carries a founding story unmatched by any other English city. Set on the River Colne in north-eastern Essex, it grew around the Norman castle built in the eleventh century over Roman foundations, alongside the ruins of St Botolph's Priory. Around 130,000 people live across the built-up area today.
Lexden is among the most sought-after pockets for primary catchments, and the school-competitive belt extends into the Town Centre and westward through established residential streets. West Bergholt and Sheepen add further catchment depth, while Gosfield to the north draws families seeking a quieter setting within reach of the city's schools. The Great Eastern Main Line serves Colchester station, reaching Ipswich in around twenty minutes and extending north to Norwich.
75
Primary
schools
15
Secondary
schools
5
All-through
schools
2
Post-16
colleges
5
Special
schools
3
Other
schools
of which10sixth forms·2grammar·30faith105 total
Area Performance
Colchester schools rank in the top 49% of England
Across 101 primary, secondary and sixth-form schools, state and independent. The average Find My School Inspection Score is 7.40/10, +0.00 vs England.
Find My School Inspection Band
12% Elite
Distribution across all Colchester schools
EliteExcellentGoodDevelopingRebuilding
Colchester vs England distribution
National Rank
Top 49%
Across all ranked Colchester schools
Top 50%Primaryavg #7,520 of 14,978
Top 47%Secondaryavg #1,798 of 3,861
Top 48%Sixth formavg #1,222 of 2,554
Primary schools: 70 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.3/10
-0.03 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.3/10
Average national rank
#7,520
0 pts vs medianmedian 7,489
top 50% of 14,978
% reaching expected RWM standardstate
63%
+1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 62%
% reaching higher RWM standardstate
9%
+1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 8%
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.3/10
-0.03 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.3/10
Average national rank
#7,520
0 pts vs medianmedian 7,489
top 50% of 14,978
% reaching expected RWM standardstate
63%
+1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 62%
% reaching higher RWM standardstate
9%
+1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 8%
Secondary schools: 20 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.8/10
+0.44 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.4/10
Average national rank
#1,798
+3 pts vs medianmedian 1,931
top 47% of 3,861
% achieving grades 9-7 (A*-A)state
87%
+31 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 56%
Attainment 8 score (out of 90)state
52.6
+13.5 vs Eng avgEng avg 39.1
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.8/10
+0.44 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.4/10
Average national rank
#1,798
+3 pts vs medianmedian 1,931
top 47% of 3,861
% achieving grades 9-7 (A*-A)state
87%
+31 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 56%
Attainment 8 score (out of 90)state
52.6
+13.5 vs Eng avgEng avg 39.1
Sixth form schools: 11 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.2/10
-0.58 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.7/10
Average national rank
#1,222
+2 pts vs medianmedian 1,277
top 48% of 2,554
% A*-A at A-Level
34%
+9 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 25%
% A*-B at A-Level
53%
+3 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 50%
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.2/10
-0.58 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.7/10
Average national rank
#1,222
+2 pts vs medianmedian 1,277
top 48% of 2,554
% A*-A at A-Level
34%
+9 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 25%
% A*-B at A-Level
53%
+3 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 50%
Oxford
#216
3 ranked schools · +37 places vs Eng avg #253 of 1,197
Applications
54
Offers
7
Offer rate13.0%
-2.1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 15.1%
Cambridge
#140
3 ranked schools · +633 places vs Eng avg #773 of 1,880
Applications
105
Offers
35
Offer rate33.3%
+3.9 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 29.4%
Top 3 Primary Schools
2026
Colchester
Top 3 Secondary Schools
2026
Colchester
Top 3 Sixth Forms
2026
Colchester
Local directory
School profiles in Colchester
Browse 97 local profile links across primary schools, secondary schools and sixth forms. Each profile brings together admissions context, performance data, inspection history and school details in one place.
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