Unity Primary Academy, based in Colchester, provides primary education, serving pupils aged 3 to 11. The school is a academy sponsor led and operates as a mixed school. It follows a not applicable admissions policy. It does not have a designated religious character, which may suit families looking for a non-faith school.
Unity Primary Academy currently has around 449 pupils on roll, which is about 107% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 52.1% boys and 47.9% girls. Around 48.3% 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 6.6%. Persistent absence is recorded at 20%.
Pupil backgrounds are varied, with white british pupils forming the largest group at around 43.2%. african pupils make up about 24.1%
Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.
| Address: | Hickory Avenue, Colchester, CO4 3QJ |
| Website: | unityprimaryacademy.com |
| Telephone: | 01206864226 |
| School Type: | Academy sponsor led |
| Education phase: | Primary |
| Local authority: | Essex |
| Headteacher / Principal: | Mr Pieter Labuschagne |
| Religious character: | Does not apply |
| Admissions policy: | Not applicable |
| Unique reference: | 141113 |
Ofsted inspection date: 10/06/2025
Safeguarding is effective
| Age Range: | 3 - 11 |
| Gender: | Mixed |
| School Capacity: | 420 |
| Number of Pupils: | 449 |
| Number of Boys: | 234 |
| Number of Girls: | 215 |
| School | England state-funded schools: | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall absence: | 6.6% | 4% |
| Persistent absence: | 20% | 8.2% |
| White British | 43.20% | 194 |
| African | 24.10% | 108 |
| Other (any other ethnic group) | 5.80% | 26 |
| Other Mixed | 4.70% | 21 |
| Other White | 4.70% | 21 |
| Indian | 4.50% | 20 |
| White and Black African | 2.40% | 11 |
| Bangladeshi | 2.40% | 11 |
| White and Asian | 1.30% | 6 |
| Other Asian | 1.30% | 6 |
| Pakistani | 1.10% | 5 |
| Other Black | 1.10% | 5 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.90% | 4 |
| Chinese | 0.70% | 3 |
| Caribbean | 0.70% | 3 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.70% | 3 |
| Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage) | 0.40% | 2 |
| Irish | 0.00% | 0 |
| Unclassified | 0.00% | 0 |
Progress scores show how pupils performed compared with pupils nationally who had similar prior attainment. Scores above 0 are better than average; below 0 are worse than average.
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unity Primary Academy Hickory Avenue , Greenstead CO4 3QJ | - not rated | 0 yd | Academy sponsor led | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Greenstead, St Andrew's Nursery and Infant School Hickory Avenue , Greenstead CO4 3QJ | - not rated | 0 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St Andrew's Junior School Hickory Avenue , Greenstead Estate CO4 3QJ | - not rated | 25 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Hazelmere Junior School Hawthorn Avenue , CO4 3JP | 3out of 4 | 932 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Hazelmere Infant School and Nursery Hawthorn Avenue , CO4 3JP | - not rated | 932 yd | Community school | No | 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 | 830 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Sir Charles Lucas Arts College Hawthorn Avenue , CO4 3JL | - not rated | 830 yd | Foundation school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Sixth Form College Colchester North Hill , CO1 1SN | - not rated | 2,964 yd | Academy 16-19 converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| The Sixth Form College Colchester North Hill , CO1 1SN | - not rated | 2,964 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | 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 | 510 yd | Other independent school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| WoodGrove Donyland House , 45 Harsnett Road CO1 2HS | - not rated | 1,565 yd | Other independent special school | No | Boys | More About School |
| University of Essex Wivenhoe Park , CO4 3SQ | - not rated | 1,677 yd | Higher education institutions | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| St Mary's Convent School 48 Priory Street , CO1 2QB | - not rated | 1,916 yd | Other independent school | Not Applicable | Girls | More About School |
| Education and Youth Services Ltd 50 Manor Road , CO3 3LX | - not rated | 3,183 yd | Other independent special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.