Classpot

Paxman Academy

Colchester, CO2 9DBSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Feb 2024
Progress 8
-0.17
Below average
−20+2
Competition
0.6×
Not oversubscribed
104 1st-choice / 171 places
Ranking
#1,936
of 3,141 nationally

About Paxman Academy

Paxman Academy sits within the Essex local authority, a secondary school in Colchester that serves pupils from age 11 to 16. In the local landscape of 86 same-type state secondaries across the county, it ranks 38th by Progress 8 score, placing it just above the middle of the pack. The top-performing peers in the area are all grammar schools — King Edward VI Grammar School in Chelmsford, Colchester Royal Grammar School, and Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School — each with Progress 8 scores above 1.0, reflecting a selective intake that Paxman, as a non-selective school, does not share. The nearest school rated Outstanding by Ofsted is Colchester County High School for Girls, only 1.5 kilometres away. Paxman itself was rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2024, with inspectors awarding Good across all five categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and overall effectiveness. It is a mixed school with no religious character and no sixth form, meaning students typically move on elsewhere after Year 11.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressPaxman Avenue, Colchester, Colchester, CO2 9DB
HeadteacherDebbie Kershaw
Local AuthorityEssex
Number of Pupils886
Free School Meals (FSM)29.7%
School Capacity886 / 900 (98% full)

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

6 Feb 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Source: Ofsted, 13 Mar 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

9
Swimming PoolMusic RoomsLibraryTheatrePlaying FieldsScience LabsSports HallICT SuiteTennis Courts

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

13

Sports

RugbyNetballFootballTennisCricketAthleticsBadminton

Clubs & Activities

NewspaperFilm ClubModel United NationsArt ClubCodingGardening

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingPhysicalLearning DifficultyMulti-SensoryOther

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:25 – 15:00

Source: paxmanacademy.school. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Paxman Academy

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