Classpot

Colchester Royal Grammar School

Colchester, CO3 3NDSecondaryAges 11–18BoysState
Ofsted Rating
Inadequate
May 2021
Progress 8
+1.09
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
2.2×
Oversubscribed
274 1st-choice / 124 places
Ranking
🏆Top 5%
#49 of 3,141 nationally

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.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderBoys
Religious CharacterChristian
AddressLexden Road, Colchester, Colchester, CO3 3ND
HeadteacherJohn Russell
Local AuthorityEssex
Number of Pupils1,059
Free School Meals (FSM)4.5%
School Capacity1,059 / 777 (136% full)
Sixth FormYes
BoardingYes — Boarding school

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

11 May 2021
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Inadequate
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Inadequate
Personal Development
Inadequate
Leadership & Management
Inadequate
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 8 Jul 2021. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

7
Swimming PoolLibraryDining HallGymnasiumSixth Form CentreScience LabsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

17

Sports

TennisSwimmingCross CountryRoundersFootballRugbyAthleticsRowingHockeyNetball

Clubs & Activities

Model United NationsArt ClubYoung EnterpriseDuke of EdinburghNewspaperDebateGardening

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning Difficulty

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:50 – 15:40

Source: crgs.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

Was this page helpful?

Frequently Asked Questions About Colchester Royal Grammar School

Colchester Royal Grammar School has been rated "Inadequate" by Ofsted. This means the school has been identified as needing significant improvement. Ofsted will monitor the school closely.