Colchester Royal Grammar School
136%
Capacity
1,059
Pupils
6.3x
Demand
About Colchester Royal Grammar School
Colchester Royal Grammar School is a boys' grammar school that is in high demand among local families. For entry in the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 780 applications for just 124 places, giving it an oversubscription ratio of 6.29. Of those applications, 274 were first-preference choices, though only 58 first-preference offers were made. This level of competition suggests that parents see the school as a strong option for academically selective secondary education in Colchester. The school is a state-funded boarding school, which is unusual for a grammar, and it has a Christian religious character. Its headteacher is John Russell. The school has capacity for 777 pupils but currently has 1,059 on roll, meaning it is significantly over capacity. Just 4.5 per cent of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is well below the national average and reflects the selective intake.
Academically, the school's performance is very strong, though its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2021 rated it Inadequate overall, with Inadequate ratings for personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management. The quality of education and sixth-form provision were both rated Good. This is a sharp drop from its previous inspection in 2007, when it was rated Outstanding across all areas. Exam results tell a different story. At Key Stage 4, the school achieved a Progress 8 score of 1.09, meaning pupils make nearly a grade more progress per subject than the national average. This is well above the local authority average of -0.18. The Attainment 8 score was 83.4, and 100 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. At A-level, the average points per entry was 49.64, equivalent to a grade A, and 67.6 per cent of entries were graded AAB or higher. The school ranks 1st in Colchester and 49th nationally for Progress 8.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, library, gymnasium, sixth-form centre, science labs, and a chapel. Sports provision is extensive, with rowing, rugby, hockey, tennis, and athletics among the options. There are also many clubs such as Model UN, Young Enterprise, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, and a gardening club. The school has a dedicated sixth form and provides support for a broad range of special educational needs, including dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and speech, language, and communication needs. Given its high academic standards and intense competition for places, this school is best suited to boys who are already achieving well above average and who are comfortable in a selective, high-pressure environment. Families should be aware of the Ofsted rating and consider visiting to see how the school is addressing the areas flagged for improvement.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Boys |
| Religious Character | Christian |
| Address | Lexden Road, Colchester, Colchester, CO3 3ND |
| Headteacher | John Russell |
| Local Authority | Essex |
| Number of Pupils | 1,059 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 4.5% |
| School Capacity | 1,059 / 777 (136% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
| Boarding | Yes — Boarding school |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
11 May 2021Overall Effectiveness
Inadequate
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 8 Jul 2021. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+1.09)
49th of 3,141
Nationally
4th of 350
In East of England
1st of 10
In Colchester
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed124
780
Extremely High Demand
Very competitive - significantly more applications than places
274 families put this school as their 1st choice (35% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- Asian42.4%
- White British37.1%
- Mixed6.8%
- White (other)5.6%
- Black0.4%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
11
Total schools
10
Oversubscribed
4
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Colchester Royal Grammar School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Lexden Road, Colchester
Colchester, CO3 3ND
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Colchester Royal Grammar School!
Write a Review