Best Secondary Schools in Colchester

We checked all 19 secondary schools in Colchester, Essex, and list every one: 14 ranked, then 5 without a rank.

Schools checked
19
Ranked
14
Without a rank
5

Ranks combine 2024/25 GCSE results, worth 60% of each school's score, with the latest Ofsted outcome, worth 40%, as how we rank schools sets out. Rank 1 is the highest score in Colchester. Schools with the same score share a rank. Schools without published results or an Ofsted outcome follow the ranked schools, in name order.

Colchester also has 78 primary schools, ranked on SATs results and Ofsted. Every school in the area is also listed with the other schools in Essex. Essex also has rankings for Chelmsford, Harlow, Brentwood, Basildon, Billericay and all of Essex.

Ranked secondary schools in Colchester

  1. 1

    Colchester County High School for Girls

    Academy, Selective, 1,198 pupils, inspected November 2023

    Ofsted: Outstanding
    Attainment 8
    80.6
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    100%

  2. 2

    Colchester Royal Grammar School

    Academy, Selective, 1,073 pupils, inspected April 2026

    Report card: Strong standard to exceptional
    Attainment 8
    82.1
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    100%

  3. 3

    The Gilberd School

    Academy, 1,588 pupils, inspected November 2018

    Ofsted: Outstanding
    Attainment 8
    53.4
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    58.2%

  4. 4

    St Benedict's Catholic College

    Local authority maintained, 905 pupils, inspected November 2013

    Ofsted: Good
    Attainment 8
    54.7
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    61.7%

  5. 5

    The Stanway School

    Academy, 1,396 pupils, inspected May 2013

    Ofsted: Good
    Attainment 8
    48.2
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    54.4%

  6. 6

    East Bergholt High School

    Academy, 902 pupils, inspected September 2013

    Ofsted: Good
    Attainment 8
    47.8
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    48.1%

  7. 7

    Honywood School

    Academy, 849 pupils, inspected December 2022

    Ofsted: Good
    Attainment 8
    46.3
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    47.5%

  8. 8

    St Helena School

    Academy, 986 pupils, inspected January 2024

    Ofsted: Good
    Attainment 8
    46.0
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    36.3%

  9. 9

    The Thomas Lord Audley School

    Academy, 940 pupils, inspected April 2016

    Ofsted: Good
    Attainment 8
    42.3
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    41.9%

  10. 10

    Thurstable School

    Academy, 932 pupils, inspected May 2025

    Ofsted judgements: Good
    Attainment 8
    41.9
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    42%

  11. 11

    Colne Community School

    Academy, 1,289 pupils, inspected June 2023

    Ofsted: Good
    Attainment 8
    43.0
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    39.7%

  12. 12

    Philip Morant School and College

    Academy, 1,888 pupils, inspected September 2023

    Ofsted: Good
    Attainment 8
    44.5
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    36.7%

  13. 13

    Paxman Academy

    Free school, 873 pupils, inspected February 2024

    Ofsted: Good
    Attainment 8
    41.3
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    34.3%

  14. 14

    Colchester Academy

    Academy, 879 pupils, inspected March 2023

    Ofsted: Good
    Attainment 8
    38.5
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    31.3%

Secondary schools in Colchester without a rank