Schools in Colchester: Ofsted Ratings (2026)
167 registered schools in Colchester, East of England. 58% are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Browse the best primary and secondary schools below, then run a free property check before you make an offer.
167
Schools total
141 primary · 25 secondary
58%
Good or Outstanding
97 of 167
20
Rated Outstanding
77
Rated Good
Best primary schools in Colchester
141 primary schools, sorted by Ofsted rating (Outstanding first). Showing the top 25.
| School | Postcode | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|
| Birch Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School | CO2 0LZ | Outstanding |
| Boxford Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School | CO10 5NP | Outstanding |
| Brooklands Primary School | CO11 1RX | Outstanding |
| Bures Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School | CO8 5BX | Outstanding |
| Dedham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School | CO7 6BZ | Outstanding |
| Elmstead Primary School | CO7 7YQ | Outstanding |
| Fordham All Saints CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School | CO6 3NN | Outstanding |
| Hamilton Primary School | CO3 3GB | Outstanding |
| Kelvedon St Mary's Church of England Primary Academy | CO5 9DS | Outstanding |
| Lavenham Community Primary School | CO10 9RB | Outstanding |
| Lawford Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School | CO11 2FR | Outstanding |
| Nayland Primary School | CO6 4HZ | Outstanding |
| Prettygate Junior School | CO3 4PH | Outstanding |
| St John's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Colchester | CO4 0HH | Outstanding |
| St Joseph's Catholic Primary School | CO12 3SU | Outstanding |
| St Teresa's Catholic Primary School, Colchester | CO3 9BE | Outstanding |
| St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester | CO1 2QB | Outstanding |
| Tendring Primary School | CO16 0BP | Outstanding |
| All Saints Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Great Oakley | CO12 5BA | Good |
| All Saints' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Dovercourt | CO12 4HT | Good |
| Ardleigh St Mary's Church of England Primary Academy | CO7 7NS | Good |
| Baynards Primary School | CO5 0ND | Good |
| Belchamp St Paul Church of England Primary School | CO10 7BP | Good |
| Boxted St Peter's Church of England School | CO4 5YN | Good |
| Bradfield Primary School | CO11 2UZ | Good |
Best secondary schools in Colchester
25 secondary schools, sorted by Ofsted rating. Showing the top 25.
| School | Postcode | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|
| Colchester County High School for Girls | CO3 3US | Outstanding |
| Colchester Royal Grammar School | CO3 3ND | Outstanding |
| Clacton County High School | CO15 6DZ | Good |
| Colchester Academy | CO4 3JL | Good |
| Harwich and Dovercourt High School | CO12 3TG | Good |
| Honywood School | CO6 1PZ | Good |
| Manningtree High School | CO11 2BW | Good |
| Ormiston Sudbury Academy | CO10 1NW | Good |
| St Helena School | CO3 3LE | Good |
| Stour Valley Community School | CO10 8PJ | Good |
| The Gilberd School | CO4 9PU | Good |
| The Ramsey Academy, Halstead | CO9 2HR | Good |
| The Stanway School | CO3 0QA | Good |
| Thomas Gainsborough School | CO10 0NH | Good |
| Thurstable School | CO5 0EW | Good |
| East Bergholt High School | CO7 6RJ | Requires improvement |
| Hedingham School and Sixth Form | CO9 3QH | Requires improvement |
| Lift Clacton | CO15 3JL | Requires improvement |
| St Benedict's Catholic College | CO3 3US | Requires improvement |
| The Thomas Lord Audley School | CO2 8NJ | Requires improvement |
| Colne Community School | CO7 0QL | Inadequate |
| Lift Tendring | CO13 0AZ | Inadequate |
| Philip Morant School and College | CO3 4QS | Inadequate |
| Paxman Academy | CO2 9DB | Not yet rated |
| The Trinity School | CO4 6ED | Not yet rated |
Buying near a good Colchester school?
Ofsted ratings show which schools are strong, but admission depends on distance, and the property itself can have hidden risks. Run a free HomeBuyerCheck report on any Colchester address for schools, flood, crime and sales history, then add the £4.99 Premium for ground-risk, ownership and title detail before you offer.
Schools in Colchester: FAQ
How many schools are there in Colchester?
There are 167 registered schools in Colchester on the latest Ofsted/GIAS data, 141 primary and 25 secondary. 58% are rated Good or Outstanding.
What is the best-rated school in Colchester?
20 schools are rated Outstanding by Ofsted in Colchester, with 77 more rated Good. Outstanding schools are often oversubscribed, so the property's distance to the school usually decides admission.
How do school ratings affect Colchester house prices?
Homes inside the catchment of an Outstanding or Good school typically carry a 5-15% premium. Before offering on a Colchester property, run a free HomeBuyerCheck report to see the schools near that exact address alongside flood, crime and sales history.
How do I check schools near a specific Colchester address?
Enter the postcode or address into HomeBuyerCheck. The free report lists nearby schools with Ofsted ratings; the £4.99 Premium adds ground-risk, ownership, BSR Higher-Risk Building register and Property Chamber tribunal history.