Classpot

Colchester Institute

Colchester, CO3 3LLSecondaryAges 16–99MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Mar 2023
Progress 8
-0.91
Well below average
−20+2
Competition
0.7×
Not oversubscribed
109 1st-choice / 166 places
Ranking
#2,983
of 3,141 nationally

About Colchester Institute

Colchester Institute sits within the Essex local authority as a state-funded, mixed-gender secondary school for students aged 16 to 99, making it unusual in offering post-16 and adult education alongside its core provision. In the local landscape, it ranks 71st out of 86 same-type schools in Essex, placing it firmly in the bottom tier of the county. For context, the top-performing peers in the area include King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford, Colchester Royal Grammar School, and Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School, all of which achieve Progress 8 scores above 1.0. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Colchester County High School for Girls, just 1.3 kilometres away. Headteacher Alison Andreas leads a school with a capacity of 910, and in its most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2023, the school retained its Good rating, a grade it has held consistently across its previous inspection in 2017.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range16 to 99 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressSheepen Road, Colchester, Colchester, CO3 3LL
HeadteacherAlison Andreas
Local AuthorityEssex
Free School Meals (FSM)40.8%
School Capacity910

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

8 Mar 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Source: Ofsted, 2 May 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
LibraryPlaying FieldsScience LabsTennis CourtsArt StudiosTheatreSports HallChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

15

Sports

CricketCross CountryRoundersRowingMartial ArtsGymnastics

Clubs & Activities

Young EnterpriseDramaChoirFilm ClubChessModel United NationsGardeningOrchestraCoding

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingPhysicalLearning DifficultySevere LearningMulti-SensoryOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Colchester Institute

Colchester Institute has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.