Schools by area › Essex › Paxman Academy
Paxman Academy
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Free school
Paxman Avenue, Colchester CO2 9DB · paxmanacademy.school · 01206 413813
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Feb 2024
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 41.3
- average Attainment 8 score. Essex 45.1, England 46
- Demand for places
- 0.6
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 873
- 97% of 900 places
- Local authority
- Essex
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 33.3%
- First language not English
- 14.4%
- School census 2025/26
- Trust
- The Sigma Trust
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 104 families put the school first and 174 places were offered; 100% 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 | 174 | 104 | 0.6 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 171 | 104 | 0.6 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 153 | 131 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 176 | 186 | 1.1▲ | 90% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 175 | 200 | 1.1▲ | 84% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 41.3, and 34.3% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼41.3 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼34.3% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼48.6% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼17.1% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.37 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
Left in 2023/24
| School sixth form | 10.9 |
|---|---|
| Sixth form college | 29.3 |
| Further education | 37.5 |
| Other education | 1.1 |
| Apprenticeship | 7.1 |
| Employment | 2.2 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 6 |
| Activity not captured | 6 |
Ofsted
Paxman Academy was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 6 February 2024, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 6 Feb 2024
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
What parents said
62% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (207 replies, to 6 January 2025).
- Recommend
- 62%
- Replies
- 207
- 23% · 6 Jan 2025
based on the 73% who raised concerns
based on the 46% who had a child bullied
based on 83 parents (40%) with SEND