St Benedict's Catholic College
Colchester, CO3 3US · Essex · secondary school
Check the area around this school
13th 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 the 423 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 4.2/10 among them, against 8.3/10 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 | 75.7 · 93 | 30% | 2.80 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.23 · 67 | 25% | 1.68 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 58.4 · 90 | 10% | 0.90 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St Benedict's Catholic College overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected in 2023-09. In 2024/25, 61.7% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 54.7, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.23 in 2023/24, indicating better progress than pupils nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 3.1 out of 10 among them, against 7.8 out of 10 nationally.
Getting in
The published school roll is 905 pupils against a stated capacity of 876. 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 does the school support pupils to close the gap between their attainment and the national median? What specific support is available for pupils who need to improve their progress scores?
What Ofsted said about St Benedict's Catholic College
Overview
St Benedict’s Catholic College continues to be a good school, described by parents as “more than a school: it’s a community.” The inspection confirms that pupils are safe, respectful, and enjoy attending, supported by strong staff relationships and a clear ethos of caring. Leaders and governors work effectively together to ensure high standards of pastoral care and academic ambition.
Strengths
- Pupils display “typically good” behaviour, are “polite and courteous,” and maintain strong, positive relationships with staff.
- Curriculum planning is “carefully thought through,” with teachers creating learning environments that support academic progress in most subjects.
- The school offers extensive extra-curricular activities and leadership opportunities, such as the school council, which help pupils become “confident and happy.”
- Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff confident in reporting concerns and pupils knowing how to keep themselves safe online and offline.
- Governors fulfil their statutory obligations well and hold school leaders to account effectively, supporting whole-school improvement.
Areas to improve
- In a small number of subjects, assessment is not used consistently to check what pupils know and understand, meaning misconceptions are not always addressed.
- Some parents perceive that provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) does not fully meet their individual needs, partly due to recruitment challenges.
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective,” with rigorous safer recruitment practices and staff who are confident in their knowledge of safeguarding requirements.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 53.5 |
| 2024/25 | 54.7 |
| 2025/26 | 58.4 |
| 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
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