St Michael's Primary School and Nursery, Colchester
Colchester, CO2 9RA · Essex · primary school
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321st of 391 primary schools in Essex we can score, 444 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 3.1/10 against 2,762 of them, against 3.2/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 56.0 · 30 | 62% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 4.0 · 35 | 38% | 1.36 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St Michael's Primary School and Nursery, Colchester overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 56% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 4% of pupils, against a national median of 7%. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (3.1 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.2 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 228 pupils against a stated capacity of 281. 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 who are below the expected standard in literacy? What specific strategies are used to help students progress from the expected to the higher standard? How does the nursery phase transition into the main primary curriculum?
What Ofsted said about St Michael's Primary School and Nursery, Colchester
Overview
Pupils at St Michael’s Primary School and Nursery consistently display the school values of ‘include, achieve, inspire’ and report that ‘everyone is kind’. The school provides an ‘ambitious’ curriculum that motivates learners, with particular strength in early reading and personal development, where pupils gain a ‘rich understanding of different faiths and beliefs’.
Strengths
- Personal development is described as ‘exceptional’, with pupils well-prepared to be ‘active citizens in modern Britain’ through tolerance, respect, and career awareness.
- Reading is prioritised from the start; staff are ‘highly trained’ in phonics, ensuring most pupils, including disadvantaged ones, become ‘confident and fluent readers’.
- Provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is a ‘strength’, with ‘rapid and effective’ support leading to good achievement.
- Pupils enjoy ‘extensive opportunities’ to develop talents through clubs, music, and public speaking, fostering self-confidence and collaboration.
- Staff feel ‘very well supported’ by leaders regarding well-being and workload, while the governing body holds the school to account ‘effectively’.
Areas to improve
- Expectations for written work are not ‘consistently reinforced’ across all subjects, meaning errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation are sometimes not addressed, resulting in writing that is ‘difficult to read’.
- In a few subjects, the approach to checking pupil understanding is ‘not consistent’, leading to gaps in knowledge that are not fully identified, which hinders progress.
Safeguarding
The report states that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 46% |
| 2023/24 | 39% |
| 2024/25 | 56% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 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
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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