Best secondary schools in Colchester (2026)
Colchester has 9 ranked secondary schools with published results. The top-ranked is Colchester Royal Grammar School, in the top 1% in England. The average Attainment 8 here in 2025 was 54.4, against 46.1 for England. 2 are in England's top 10%, and 1 are rated Outstanding by Ofsted. There are 2 grammar schools.
| Rank | School | Attainment 8 (2023–2025 average) | Attainment 8 2025 | Trend | Grade 5+ Eng & maths | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Top 1% in England |
Colchester Royal Grammar School Colchester · Grammar · Boys · Christian |
82.8 | 82.1 | 100% | Report card | |
2 Top 1% in England |
Colchester County High School for Girls Colchester · Grammar · Girls |
80.6 | 80.6 | 100% | Outstanding | |
3 Top 17% in England |
St Benedict's Catholic College Colchester · Roman Catholic |
54.1 | 54.7 | 62% | No rating | |
4 Top 26% in England |
The Gilberd School Colchester |
51.5 | 53.4 | 58% | No rating | |
5 Top 41% in England |
The Stanway School Colchester |
47.3 | 48.2 | 54% | No rating | |
6 Bottom 48% in England |
Philip Morant School and College Colchester |
45.3 | 44.5 | 37% | Good | |
7 Bottom 33% in England |
Paxman Academy Colchester |
42.3 | 41.3 | 34% | Good | |
8 Bottom 33% in England |
St Helena School Colchester |
43.3 | 46.0 | 36% | Good | |
9 Bottom 9% in England |
Colchester Academy Colchester |
36.8 | 38.5 | 31% | Good |
Other towns in Essex
- Basildon
- Braintree
- Brentwood
- Chelmsford
- Grays
- Harlow
- Loughton
- Southend-on-Sea
- Thundersley and South Benfleet
Also see
Questions
What is the best secondary school in Colchester?
On exam results over the last three years, Colchester Royal Grammar School is the top-ranked secondary school in Colchester, in the top 1% of schools in England.
How are the schools ranked?
By published Department for Education exam results averaged over three years: for secondary schools, Attainment 8 plus a quarter of the share getting grade 5+ in English and maths; for primary schools, the share reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths plus half the share reaching the higher standard. The order uses the three-year average, so a school can rank above one with a higher single-year result. Schools with fewer than 10 pupils taking the tests are not ranked. Exam results are only part of the picture: visit, read the Ofsted report and check admissions rules, as living nearby does not guarantee a place.