Schools by area › Essex › The Gilberd School
The Gilberd School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Academy
Brinkley Lane, Colchester CO4 9PU · gilberd.com · 01206 842211
Overview
- Ofsted
- Standards maintained
- Ungraded inspection · Feb 2025
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 53.4
- average Attainment 8 score. Essex 45.1, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.3
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,588
- 99% of 1,600 places
- Local authority
- Essex
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 15.4%
- First language not English
- 13.1%
- School census 2025/26
- Trust
- Alpha Trust
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 401 families put the school first and 306 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 | 306 | 401 | 1.3▲ | 67% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 320 | 377 | 1.2▲ | 74% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 319 | 375 | 1.2▲ | 76% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 317 | 412 | 1.3▲ | 70% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 296 | 411 | 1.4▲ | 66% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 53.4, and 58.2% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲53.4 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲58.2% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲77.1% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼31.4% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲4.76 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 11.2 | +2.5 |
| Sixth form college | 43.5 | −1.5 |
| Further education | 35.8 | −0.5 |
| Other education | 0.3 | 0 |
| Apprenticeship | 1.3 | −0.9 |
| Employment | 3.2 | +0.1 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 3.2 | +0.1 |
| Activity not captured | 1.6 | +0.4 |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 5 February 2025, Ofsted’s outcome for The Gilberd School was: Standards maintained.
- Outcome
- Standards maintained
- Inspected
- 4 Feb 2025
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Outstanding, graded inspection, Nov 2018
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Nov 2018Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Safeguarding Effective Mar 2018Monitoring visit
Safeguarding Effective Nov 2013Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Sept 2010Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good
What parents said
83% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (231 replies, to 1 September 2025).
- Recommend
- 83%
- Replies
- 231
- 15% · 1 Sept 2025
based on the 76% who raised concerns
based on the 33% who had a child bullied
based on 79 parents (34%) with SEND