Colchester Prep & High School, Colchester
Colchester Prep & High School is an independent school for pupils aged 2 to 16 in Colchester. It is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted; its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in November 2025.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Colchester Prep & High School in detail
Colchester Prep & High School in its own words
In its own words: "Our mission is to prepare children to be the changemakers of tomorrow’s world through an inspiring education which builds self-belief and empowers individuals to succeed. We provide an education that fosters academic excellence, global awareness, and social responsibility, helping pupils become well-rounded individuals and conscious, active citizens of the future."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, rugby, cricket, athletics, basketball, yoga, dance, drama and choir.
Vision and values (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Colchester Prep & High School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to Colchester Prep & High School are St Mary's School for Girls (0.5 miles) and Holmwood House School (2 miles).
Who goes there
In 2026, 76 pupils (27.1%) received SEN support and 1 (0.4%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Colchester City Rail Station, about 980 metres away (roughly a 12-minute walk).
12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Essex County Hospital (opposite), 110 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 507 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Essex (97), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASISI Inspection Reports
Independent schools in England are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), not Ofsted.
Routine Inspection
25 November 2025
Educational Quality / Focused Compliance
6 December 2022
Regulatory Compliance
13 March 2019
Integrated
8 March 2016
About
Colchester Prep and High School, or CPHS, is a coeducational independent school located in Colchester in Essex, England. The school is owned and operated by the Cognita Group.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Fees for 2026/27
Day fees, per year
£13,620 to £21,570
depending on year group
| Reception - Year 2 | £13,620 a year |
| Year 3 & 4 | £16,500 a year |
| Year 5 & 6 | £17,190 a year |
| Year 7 & 8 | £20,175 a year |
| Year 9 | £20,490 a year |
| Year 10 & 11 | £21,570 a year |
Including VAT. From the school's own fee schedule; check with the school before you rely on it.
Private school fees in Essex - 15 schools' published fees side by side
At a Glance
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Colchester Prep & High School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
GCSE Subjects Offered
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 3 nearby all-through schools
Keep up with Colchester Prep & High School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Colchester Prep & High School.
- Kip McGrath Colchester CentralAt the school · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 52
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 10
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 52 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 10 serious and 42 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 2 on a bicycle.
14 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Essex is 9 (the median across 614 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
50%
Available places
280 pupils
558 places
278 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Colchester
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Colchester
Across Essex council
Places available
17,590
Applications
16,568
Got 1st preference
83.4%
Got preferred school
97.0%
All secondary applications across Essex council (2026/27), not just this school.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
76
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
27.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
280
Total Pupils
195
Boys
85
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Colchester Prep & High School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Colchester Prep & High School
What are GCSE results like at Colchester Prep & High School?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Colchester Prep & High School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
When was Colchester Prep & High School last inspected?
Colchester Prep & High School is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted. Its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in November 2025.
How many pupils go to Colchester Prep & High School?
Colchester Prep & High School has around 280 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Colchester Prep & High School?
Colchester Prep & High School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
Does Colchester Prep & High School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Kip McGrath Colchester Central (registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Colchester Prep & High School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 52 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 10 serious and 42 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 2 on a bicycle. 14 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Essex is 9 (the median across 614 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Colchester Prep & High School?
Colchester Prep & High School is at Wellesley Road, Colchester, Essex, CO3 3HD.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)