Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Colchester
Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Colchester. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 52nd-highest of the 66 schools in Colchester with published results, and 10,218th of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Essex (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School in detail
Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "The best people to tell you about our school are the children and their parents."
From the headteacher's welcome: "Great Tey Church of England (Controlled) Primary School is a small, friendly community school just outside Colchester. At Great Tey, it is our strong belief that children learn best when they are happy, well supported and engaged in their learning and we strive to give children experiences and opportunities which will engage their interest."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, cricket, tennis, dance, choir, cooking and eco club.
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am and after-school care.
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 83% of Year 6 pupils at Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 58% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 76% in Essex and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 92% in reading and 75% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 8 families put Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School as their first choice and 24 named it as one of their preferences, for 8 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School are Chappel CofE Controlled Primary School (1.5 miles, 81% reading, 75% maths); St Andrew's Church of England Primary Academy, Marks Tey (1.8 miles, 95% reading, 90% maths); Fordham All Saints CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School (2.5 miles, 93% reading, 73% maths); and Earls Colne Primary School and Nursery (2.5 miles, Good, 65% reading, 67% maths).
Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.
Chappel CofE Controlled Primary SchoolSt Andrew's Church of England Primary Academy, Marks TeyFordham All Saints CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolEarls Colne Primary School and Nursery
Who goes there
0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 16 pupils (18.6%) received SEN support and 12 (14%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Staffing
Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School had 10 teachers in 2026, one for every 8 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Chappel & Wakes Colne Rail Station, about 1.8 miles away in a straight line.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Village Hall (outside), 140 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 2 crimes within a mile of the school, most often criminal damage and arson and vehicle crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Essex (97).
Suspensions and exclusions
Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from March 2014, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its March 2014 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
24.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 92% to 83% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 75% to 58% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 75% to 67% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
18.0
Avg class size
26.0
KS2
2
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
You apply to the council where you live. Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is in Essex; for families living there:
- Essex's school travel policy: Education Transport Policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 2
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 1 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
1 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
Your chances of a place at Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Will you get a place at Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Essex, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Essex got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
100%
Full
84 pupils
84 places
No spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Colchester
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Colchester
Across Essex council
Places available
17,932
Applications
15,737
Got 1st preference
90.3%
Got preferred school
98.2%
All primary applications across Essex council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
16
SEN Support
12
EHC Plans
32.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
86
Total Pupils
43
Boys
43
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
10
Teachers
8.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,714
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,749
Per pupil
£626k
Total funding
£33k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.7%
Overall absence
20.8%
Persistent absence
72
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
What are SATs results like at Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Of the pupils at Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 83% reached the expected standard in reading and 58% did so in maths.
What is Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is oversubscribed, Essex allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School was full in 2025, at 100% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Classes at Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School average 18 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School has around 86 pupils on roll. 24% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
7.7% of sessions were missed at Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School in 2024/25. 20.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Apply through Essex's coordinated admissions process, naming Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 1 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 1 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 Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is at Chrismund Way, Great Tey, Colchester, Essex, CO6 1AZ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)