School finder
The nearest schools to any postcode in England, with Ofsted grades, ages and pupil numbers. Free
30 nearest schools to CO3 3TJ
| School | Type | Ages | Ofsted | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Mary's School for Girls 424 pupils | Other independent school Girls | 2–17 | Report | 0.6 mi |
| Home Farm Primary School 422 pupils | Primary | 4–11 | Report | 0.6 mi |
| St Benedict's Catholic College 905 pupils | Secondary | 11–16 | Report | 0.6 mi |
| Colchester County High School for Girls 1,198 pupils | Secondary Girls | 11–18 | Outstanding Report | 0.6 mi |
| Lexden Primary School with Unit for Hearing Impaired Pupils 236 pupils | Primary | 3–11 | Report | 0.7 mi |
| Kingswode Hoe School 167 pupils | Academy special converter | 5–16 | Report | 0.7 mi |
| Philip Morant School and College 1,888 pupils | Secondary | 11–18 | Good Report | 0.7 mi |
| St Teresa's Catholic Primary School, Colchester 252 pupils | Primary | 2–11 | Report | 0.7 mi |
| The Willows | Other independent special school | 11–17 | Report | 0.8 mi |
| Holmwood House School 395 pupils | Other independent school | 0–16 | Report | 0.8 mi |
| Prettygate Junior School 250 pupils | Primary | 7–11 | Report | 0.9 mi |
| Prettygate Infant School 172 pupils | Primary | 5–7 | Good Report | 0.9 mi |
| Colchester Royal Grammar School 1,073 pupils | Secondary Boys | 11–18 | Inadequate Report | 1.0 mi |
| Braiswick Primary School 419 pupils | Primary | 4–11 | Report | 1.0 mi |
| Lexden Springs School 301 pupils | Academy special sponsor led | 3–19 | Inadequate Report | 1.1 mi |
| Hamilton Primary School 420 pupils | Primary | 4–11 | Report | 1.1 mi |
| St Helena School 986 pupils | Secondary | 11–16 | Good Report | 1.1 mi |
| Colchester Prep & High School 280 pupils | Other independent school | 2–16 | Report | 1.1 mi |
| North East Essex Co-operative Academy 105 pupils | Academy alternative provision converter | 4–16 | Good Report | 1.2 mi |
| The Stanway School 1,396 pupils | Secondary | 11–16 | Report | 1.2 mi |
| Stanway Primary School 390 pupils | Primary | 5–11 | Good Report | 1.2 mi |
| The Sixth Form College Colchester | 16 plus | 16–99 | Report | 1.3 mi |
| Stanway Fiveways Primary School 473 pupils | Primary | 5–11 | Good Report | 1.3 mi |
| North Primary School and Nursery 458 pupils | Primary | 3–11 | Report | 1.3 mi |
| Gosbecks Primary School 227 pupils | Primary | 5–11 | Report | 1.3 mi |
| Paxman Academy 873 pupils | Secondary | 11–16 | Good Report | 1.4 mi |
| King's Ford Infant School and Nursery 154 pupils | Primary | 2–7 | Report | 1.4 mi |
| Kings Ford Academy 152 pupils | Primary | 7–11 | Report | 1.4 mi |
| St John's Green Primary School 591 pupils | Primary | 5–11 | Report | 1.5 mi |
| Lakelands Primary School 340 pupils | Primary | 4–11 | Outstanding Report | 1.6 mi |
Source: Department for Education (Get Information about Schools) and Ofsted. Grades are from each school's last graded inspection; newer inspections use report cards without a single grade. Distances are straight-line, and catchment areas are set by the council or school.
House prices and more for CO3 3TJ
Choosing a school: what the list can and can't tell you
The finder lists the schools closest to a postcode as the crow flies, with their type, age range, number of pupils and latest Ofsted outcome. It's a good starting point, but distance alone doesn't decide who gets a place.
Catchment areas and admissions. Every school has admission criteria, set by the council for community schools and by the school itself for academies, free schools and faith schools. Most give priority to looked-after children and siblings, then to distance, but some use catchment maps, faith or aptitude. Last year's "furthest distance offered" figure, which most councils publish, is far more useful than a straight-line distance.
Ofsted ratings. Older reports give a single grade from Outstanding to Inadequate. Ofsted has since moved to report cards that grade several areas separately, so a recently inspected school may read differently. Check the date too: a grade from many years ago may not reflect the school today.
Before you buy for a school, check the council's admissions booklet for the year you'll apply, visit on an open day, and look at the school's own website for its results and oversubscription criteria. Homes in sought-after catchments often sell at a premium, so it's worth being sure.