The Thomas Lord Audley School
Monkwick Avenue, Monkwick, Colchester, CO2 8NJOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
The Thomas Lord Audley School is a secondary school in Colchester for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 604 schools in Essex. It ranks 9th of 14 secondary schools in Colchester. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in April 2016.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 21 April 2016, report published 13 May 2016
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 25 March 2025
Pupils thrive at The Thomas Lord Audley School. They appreciate many aspects of school life and particularly enjoy the excellent relationships they build with staff. Pupils, parents and carers praise the high-quality pastoral care that the school provides. Pupils know that there is always someone available to listen if they need extra help. They are safe and very well cared for. The school has high expectations for its pupils and takes pride in celebrating individual success. Pupils achieve well throughout their time at school. Teachers create an environment where pupils are fully engaged in their learning. Strategies such as 'no opt- out' help ensure that all pupils participate fully in their lessons. Pupils enjoy their learning and work hard to succeed. There is a strong sense of warmth and community across the school. Pupils are polite and friendly. They focus well in lessons, and any disruption to learning is rare. If it does occur, teachers respond quickly and effectively so that learning continues with minimal interruption. During social time and lesson transitions, pupils behave calmly and sensibly. They interact very positively with others. They enjoy taking part in lunchtime activities such as bingo or playing sports such as football or basketball.
What the school should improve
- In some subjects, teachers do not consistently provide pupils with the most effective guidance on how to improve their work. When this happens, pupils do not know how to get better or deepen their understanding. The school should ensure teachers consistently provide pupils with appropriate support and guidance so pupils are confident in how to achieve as well as they could.
- A minority of pupils do not demonstrate a strong understanding of those who are different from themselves. As a result, some younger pupils do not speak to others with sufficiently high levels of respect. The school should ensure that all pupils develop a deep understanding of, and respect for, difference, so they are able to celebrate each other's individuality.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
167 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
940 pupils on roll, with places for 840
Schools near The Thomas Lord Audley School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colchester Prep & High School | 1 mile | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 61.0 |
| Colchester Royal Grammar School | 1 mile | Report card: Strong standard to exceptional | Attainment 8: 82.1 |
| Paxman Academy | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 41.3 |
| The Sixth Form College Colchester | 2 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
| Philip Morant School and College | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 44.5 |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- THE SIGMA TRUST
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- No
- Headteacher
- Mr Simon Essex
- Phone
- 01206547911
- Address
- Monkwick Avenue, Monkwick, Colchester, CO2 8NJ
- Local authority
- Essex
- URN
- 137937
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.