Philip Morant School and College
Colchester, CO3 4QS · Essex · secondary school
Check the area around this school
32nd of 78 secondary schools in Essex we can score, 81 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 5.5/10 against 888 of them, against 5.0/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 48.1 · 58 | 30% | 1.75 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.13 · 40 | 25% | 1.00 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 45.6 · 48 | 10% | 0.47 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Philip Morant School and College overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 36.7% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 44.5, compared with the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.13 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did slightly worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Its position is much the same whether compared with all schools or only those whose pupils have similar backgrounds (3.3 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.6 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in October 2023.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the EPQ, Gold Crest Award, NCS, The Brilliant Club, and mock elections. Sports include Duke of Edinburgh and Sport Education at the University of Essex. Arts features drama, music lessons, school ensembles, concerts, and Battle of the Bands. Trips include NCS residential, a Year 10 visit to Colchester Institute, a Year 7 history trip to Stansted Mountfitchet Castle, a Year 9 Natural History Museum trip, and a Year 7 Mersea residential.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,888 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,902. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How
What Ofsted said about Philip Morant School and College
Overview
Philip Morant School and College is described as a large institution with a warm ‘family feel’, where pupils are happy and feel well looked after. The report highlights that the school has changed significantly under its current trust, with pupils achieving better in qualifications and enjoying an ambitious curriculum. Leaders and staff are praised for their dedication, creating a calm, orderly environment where high expectations are consistently met.
Strengths
- Pupils behave well in a ‘calm environment’ and appreciate staff who are ‘consistently firm and fair’.
- The curriculum is ‘well established’ across most subjects, with teachers effectively addressing misconceptions to consolidate learning.
- Strong systems for improving reading ability help pupils gain confidence, while explicit vocabulary teaching allows access to complex texts.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are ‘very well catered for’, accessing the same curriculum and qualifications as their peers.
- Almost all pupils and sixth-form students secure their next steps in education, employment, or training.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must strengthen the religious education curriculum, as pupils’ understanding of religion and faith is currently ‘less secure’ due to insufficient teaching time in the past.
- The links between personal development programmes (PSHE, RSE, and careers) require further work so pupils understand how these prepare them for adulthood.
- The sixth-form enrichment offer is ‘not as well planned’, with sports academy students having more access to voluntary work and leadership opportunities than A-level students.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 45.6 |
| 2024/25 | 44.5 |
| 2025/26 | 45.6 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
Saved schools live on this device only — no account, no tracking. Visit the school's website
Loading full school details…
Similar schools nearby
Same area, prioritising the same phase — useful for shortlisting alternatives.
Every school within 2.5 miles of CO3 4QS, with results, demand and deadlines — area report →
Have a specific question about admissions, scores or dates?
Ask SchoolsGPT