Schools by area › Essex › St Benedict's Catholic College
St Benedict's Catholic College
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Voluntary aided
Norman Way, Colchester CO3 3US · stbenedicts.essex.sch.uk · 01206 549222
Overview
- Ofsted
- Remains Good
- Ungraded inspection · Jul 2023
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 54.7
- average Attainment 8 score. Essex 45.1, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.2
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 905
- 29 over 876 places · 103%
- Local authority
- Essex
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 9.4%
- First language not English
- 18.1%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 213 families put the school first and 173 places were offered; 67% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 173 | 213 | 1.2▲ | 67% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 171 | 211 | 1.2▲ | 63% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 178 | 203 | 1.1▲ | 69% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 174 | 193 | 1.1▲ | 65% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 176 | 173 | 1 | 80% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 54.7, and 61.7% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Essex it was 45.1, and across England 46.
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲54.7 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲61.7% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲81.7% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲45.0% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲4.72 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 13.4 | +5.2 |
| Sixth form college | 52 | −15.1 |
| Further education | 24.6 | +7.5 |
| Apprenticeship | 2.2 | +1 |
| Employment | 1.7 | — |
| Not in a lasting destination | 3.9 | −1.4 |
| Activity not captured | 2.2 | +1.6 |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 19 July 2023, Ofsted’s outcome for St Benedict's Catholic College was: School remains Good.
- Outcome
- Remains Good
- Inspected
- 18 Jul 2023
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Nov 2013
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Feb 2018Monitoring visit
Safeguarding Effective Nov 2013Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Jan 2012Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement
What parents said
89% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (189 replies, to 1 April 2024).
- Recommend
- 89%
- Replies
- 189
- 21% · 1 Apr 2024
based on the 77% who raised concerns
based on the 35% who had a child bullied
based on 55 parents (29%) with SEND