Located in Colchester, St Helena School is a secondary school, serving pupils aged 11 to 16. The school is a academy converter and operates as a mixed school. It follows a non-selective admissions policy. It has a none religious character.

St Helena School currently has around 987 pupils on roll, which is about 99% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 50.5% boys and 49.5% girls. Around 29.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which gives an indication of the socio-economic mix. Pupil backgrounds are varied across different backgrounds and needs.

Overall absence at the school is 7.3%. Persistent absence is recorded at 20.2%.

The majority of pupils are from a white british background (63.2%).

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 94% of pupils move on to sustained destinations after Year 11. Most continue into education (86%) , including 3% who stay in school sixth forms and 42% progressing to further education , while 5% enter apprenticeships .

School Information

Address: Sheepen Road, Colchester, CO3 3LE
Website: www.st-helena.essex.sch.uk
Telephone: 01206572253
School Type: Academy converter
Education phase: Secondary
Local authority: Essex
Headteacher / Principal: Mrs Serena Kay
Religious character: None
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Unique reference: 137944

Map

Ofsted Inspection

  • Overall effectiveness
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Personal development
  • Management effectiveness

Ofsted inspection date: 30/01/2024

Safeguarding is effective

Pupils

General

Age Range: 11 - 16
Gender: Mixed
School Capacity: 1000
Number of Pupils: 987
Number of Boys: 498
Number of Girls: 489

Absence

SchoolEngland state-funded schools:
Overall absence: 7.3% 4%
Persistent absence: 20.2% 8.2%

Ethnicity

White British63.20%624
Other White8.30%82
African8.10%80
Other Mixed3.10%31
Other (any other ethnic group)2.80%28
Unclassified2.30%23
Indian1.80%18
White and Black Caribbean1.80%18
White and Asian1.70%17
White and Black African1.60%16
Other Asian1.10%11
Pakistani1.00%10
Bangladeshi0.80%8
Other Black0.80%8
Chinese0.70%7
Irish0.20%2
Caribbean0.20%2
Gypsy/Roma0.20%2
Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage)0.00%0

Education - Secondary

Progress 8 score

Progress 8: Average (-0.18)
Of the 190 pupils at the end of key stage 4 in this school, 171 are included in this measure.
Progress 8 score (average over pupils)
School
-0.18
Town average
0.09
Local authority average
0.16
England average
-0.03
Entering EBacc
School
22%
Town average
43%
Local authority average
42%
England average
35%
Grade 5+ in English & maths GCSEs
School
33%
Town average
55%
Local authority average
60%
England average
41%
Attainment 8 score
School
42.2
Town average
52.4
Local authority average
54.9
England average
44.6
EBacc average point score
School
3.5
Town average
4.7
Local authority average
4.9
England average
3.9
Staying in education or employment
School
94%

Nearby Schools

Primary

Ofsted Overall Effectiveness Distance Establishment Type Has Nursery Classes Gender More Info
North Primary School and Nursery
John Harper Street , CO1 1RP
3out of 4 460 yd Community school Yes Mixed More About School
St John's Green Primary School
St John's Green , CO2 7HE
3out of 4 1,330 yd Community school No Mixed More About School
Braiswick Primary School
Apprentice Drive , New Braiswick Park CO4 5QJ
3out of 4 1,490 yd Academy sponsor led No Mixed More About School
Queen Boudica Primary School
Cowper Crescent , CO4 5XT
3out of 4 1,611 yd Community school No Mixed More About School
Hamilton Primary School
Constantine Road , CO3 3GB
- not rated 1,632 yd Community school No Mixed More About School

Secondary

Ofsted Overall Effectiveness Distance Establishment Type Has Nursery Classes Gender More Info
St Helena School
Sheepen Road , CO3 3LE
3out of 4 0 yd Academy converter Not Applicable Mixed More About School
St Helena School
Sheepen Road , CO3 3LE
- not rated 0 yd Foundation school No Mixed More About School
Colchester Royal Grammar School
Lexden Road , CO3 3ND
- not rated 1,040 yd Academy converter Not Applicable Boys More About School
Colchester Royal Grammar School
Lexden Road , CO3 3ND
1out of 4 1,040 yd Academy converter No Boys More About School
Colchester Royal Grammar School
Lexden Road , CO3 3ND
- not rated 1,040 yd Foundation school Not Applicable Boys More About School

16 plus

Ofsted Overall Effectiveness Distance Establishment Type Has Nursery Classes Gender More Info
Colchester Institute
Sheepen Road , CO3 3LL
- not rated 205 yd Further education Not Applicable Mixed More About School
The Sixth Form College Colchester
North Hill , CO1 1SN
- not rated 699 yd Further education Not Applicable Mixed More About School
The Sixth Form College Colchester
North Hill , CO1 1SN
- not rated 700 yd Academy 16-19 converter No Mixed More About School

Not applicable

Ofsted Overall Effectiveness Distance Establishment Type Has Nursery Classes Gender More Info
Kingswode Hoe School
Sussex Road , CO3 3QJ
3out of 4 819 yd Academy special converter Not Applicable Mixed More About School
Kingswode Hoe School
Sussex Road , CO3 3QJ
- not rated 819 yd Community special school Not Applicable Mixed More About School
Education and Youth Services Ltd
50 Manor Road , CO3 3LX
- not rated 864 yd Other independent special school Not Applicable Mixed More About School
Oxford House School
2 Lexden Road , CO3 3NE
- not rated 960 yd Other independent school Yes Mixed More About School
Colchester Prep & High School
Wellesley Road , CO3 3HD
- not rated 1,054 yd Other independent school Yes Mixed More About School

School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.