Located in Colchester, Colchester Academy is a secondary school, serving pupils aged 11 to 16. The school is a academy sponsor led and operates as a mixed school. It follows a non-selective admissions policy. It does not have a designated religious character, which may suit families looking for a non-faith school.
Colchester Academy currently has around 899 pupils on roll, which is about 99% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 50.1% boys and 49.9% girls. Around 40.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which gives an indication of the socio-economic mix. The school has a diverse intake across different backgrounds and needs.
Overall absence at the school is 15.2%. Persistent absence is recorded at 42.5%.
The majority of pupils are from a white british background (65.7%).
At its latest Ofsted inspection, the school was rated Good. This suggests the school is performing well overall. Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.
Around 89% of pupils move on to sustained destinations after Year 11. Most continue into education (80%) , including 2% who stay in school sixth forms and 52% progressing to further education , while 2% enter apprenticeships .
| Address: | Hawthorn Avenue, Colchester, CO4 3JL |
| Website: | http://www.colchesteracademy.org.uk/ |
| Telephone: | 01206861217 |
| School Type: | Academy sponsor led |
| Education phase: | Secondary |
| Local authority: | Essex |
| Headteacher / Principal: | Mrs Jenny Betts |
| Religious character: | Does not apply |
| Admissions policy: | Non-selective |
| Unique reference: | 136195 |
Ofsted inspection date: 08/03/2023
Safeguarding is effective
| Age Range: | 11 - 16 |
| Gender: | Mixed |
| School Capacity: | 910 |
| Number of Pupils: | 899 |
| Number of Boys: | 450 |
| Number of Girls: | 449 |
| School | England state-funded schools: | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall absence: | 15.2% | 4% |
| Persistent absence: | 42.5% | 8.2% |
| White British | 65.70% | 591 |
| African | 9.70% | 87 |
| Other White | 7.80% | 70 |
| White and Black African | 2.20% | 20 |
| Other Mixed | 2.10% | 19 |
| Unclassified | 2.00% | 18 |
| Other (any other ethnic group) | 1.90% | 17 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 1.70% | 15 |
| Bangladeshi | 1.40% | 13 |
| Indian | 1.40% | 13 |
| Other Asian | 0.80% | 7 |
| Chinese | 0.70% | 6 |
| Caribbean | 0.70% | 6 |
| White and Asian | 0.60% | 5 |
| Pakistani | 0.60% | 5 |
| Other Black | 0.40% | 4 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.30% | 3 |
| Irish | 0.00% | 0 |
| Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage) | 0.00% | 0 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hazelmere Junior School Hawthorn Avenue , CO4 3JP | 3out of 4 | 106 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Hazelmere Infant School and Nursery Hawthorn Avenue , CO4 3JP | - not rated | 106 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Roach Vale Primary School Roach Vale , Parsons Heath CO4 3YN | 3out of 4 | 424 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Parsons Heath Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Templewood Road , CO4 3EZ | 3out of 4 | 642 yd | Voluntary controlled school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Unity Primary Academy Hickory Avenue , Greenstead CO4 3QJ | - not rated | 830 yd | Academy sponsor led | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colchester Academy Hawthorn Avenue , CO4 3JL | 3out of 4 | 0 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Sir Charles Lucas Arts College Hawthorn Avenue , CO4 3JL | - not rated | 0 yd | Foundation school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| The Gilberd School Brinkley Lane , CO4 9PU | 4out of 4 | 3,026 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| The Gilberd School Brinkley Lane , CO4 9PU | - not rated | 3,026 yd | Foundation school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| The Trinity School Carris Close , CO4 6ED | - not rated | 3,085 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Ramparts Christian School C.O.22 Tipett Close Tippett Close , CO4 3UJ | - not rated | 1,299 yd | Other independent school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| University of Essex Wivenhoe Park , CO4 3SQ | - not rated | 2,273 yd | Higher education institutions | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| WoodGrove Donyland House , 45 Harsnett Road CO1 2HS | - not rated | 2,309 yd | Other independent special school | No | Boys | More About School |
| St Mary's Convent School 48 Priory Street , CO1 2QB | - not rated | 2,398 yd | Other independent school | Not Applicable | Girls | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.