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St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester

Colchester, CO1 2QBPrimaryAges 4–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Outstanding
Nov 2023
KS2 Results
100%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.1×
Oversubscribed
32 1st-choice / 29 places
Ranking
🏆Top 5%
#23 of 13,686 nationally

About St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester

Nearly all parents who responded to the school's most recent survey said they would recommend St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester, and the numbers back up that enthusiasm. The school is heavily oversubscribed: for its 29 places in the 2025/26 intake, it received 64 applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.21. Of those, 32 put it as their first preference, and all 29 first-preference offers were taken up. With 205 pupils on a capacity of 210, the school is running very close to full. Headteacher Bridget Harris leads a school where just 3.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the national average. The school's Catholic character is woven into daily life, and facilities include a chapel, library, art studios, sports hall and playing fields. For families seeking a faith-based primary with strong local demand, this is clearly a popular choice.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range4 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterCatholic
AddressPriory Street, Colchester, Colchester, CO1 2QB
HeadteacherBridget Harris
Local AuthorityEssex
Number of Pupils205
Free School Meals (FSM)3.9%
School Capacity205 / 210 (98% full)

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

7 Nov 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Early Years Provision
Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 8 Feb 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

6
LibraryArt StudiosOutdoor PlaygroundPlaying FieldsSports HallChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

9

Sports

CricketNetballFootballAthletics

Clubs & Activities

GardeningCodingEco ClubChessFilm Club

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageLearning Difficulty

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester

St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.