SecondaryGrammar · Academy converter

Colchester Royal Grammar School

Lexden Road, Colchester, CO3 3ND ·

Report card: strong areas· 2026Grammar schoolChristian

At a glance

A state Christian boys' grammar academy for ages 11–18 in Colchester. Ofsted report card (April 2026): strong areas. GCSE results are well above the England average (Attainment 8: 82.1 vs 46.1, 2024/25). Oversubscribed: 280 families put it first for 128 places (September 2026 entry).

Ages: 11–18
Pupils: 1,073
Gender: Boys
Sixth form: Yes
Admissions: Selective
Local authority: Essex
Academy trust: THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST
Headteacher: Mr John Russell
Opened: May 2023
Boarding: Boarding school

School website 01206509100 Explore the area

Inspection

Ofsted report card (renewed framework)

Read reports

Inspected 14 Apr 2026Published 16 Jun 2026

SafeguardingMet
InclusionStrong standard
Curriculum and teachingExceptional
AchievementExceptional
Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
Personal development and well-beingStrong standard
Post-16 provisionExceptional
Leadership and governanceExceptional

Report cards grade each area separately on a five-point scale, from Urgent improvement to Exceptional. There is no single overall grade, and results are not directly comparable with earlier grades such as “Good”.

Inspection reports describe the school on the day. Read the full report and visit the school before deciding.

Exam results

Department for Education performance tables

GCSE results, 2024/25 · 128 pupils

Attainment 8

82.1

England 46.1

Grade 5+ Eng & maths

100%

England 45.4%

Grade 4+ Eng & maths

100%

England 64.8%

Progress 8

+1.09

2023/24 · CI 0.82 to 1.37

This school

82.1

Essex

45.1

England

46.1

Attainment 8 over time

Earlier years include results published for this school's predecessor (URN 137814), for example before it converted to an academy.

Progress 8 isn't published for 2024/25 because those pupils had no KS2 test results (tests were cancelled in 2020). Exams were not held in 2019/20 or 2020/21.

Admissions

Demand for places and how places are allocated

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Year 7 entry, September 2026 (national offer day data)

Offers made

128

1st preferences

280

All applications

804

1st prefs per place

2.19

More first choices than places

63 of 280 first-preference applicants were offered a place (23%). 56 offers went to families living in another council area.

Oversubscribed with first preferences

Earlier years include data recorded for this school's predecessor.

Catchment area

We don't have an official catchment boundary for this school. Many schools don't have one, and few councils publish boundaries as open data. We don't estimate catchments. Check the school's admissions policy or the council's admissions booklet.

Last distance offered

Not published nationally. Many councils publish the furthest distance offered for each school in their annual allocation reports. Past distances vary year to year with demand and sibling numbers, so they are not a guarantee.

How places are allocated: you apply through your home council. When a school has more applicants than places, it applies its published oversubscription criteria in order. These usually start with looked-after children, then siblings, then catchment or distance; faith schools may prioritise church attendance. Children with an EHC plan naming the school are admitted first. Apply on GOV.UK

Pupils

School census 2024/25

Pupils

1,059

Capacity

777

138% full

Girls / boys

14/86

Boys

Eligible for free school meals (last 6 years)6.6%
English as an additional language11%
SEN support7.3%
Education, Health and Care plan0.4%
The black tick shows the median for state-funded secondary schools in England.