Kings Ford Academy, Colchester
Kings Ford Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 7 to 11 in Colchester, part of Inspires MAT. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2018. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 65th-highest of the 66 schools in Colchester with published results, and 14,057th of 14,452 across England. It was 73% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2018)
- Capacity
- 73% full
- Attendance
- Below England average
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Kings Ford Academy in detail
Kings Ford Academy in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "At King's Ford Academy, we are proud to be a vibrant junior school where every child is valued and inspired to achieve their best. We currently have one class in Year 3 and Year 4, and two classes in Year 5 and Year 6, creating a close-knit environment where children feel a strong sense of belonging."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include choir, recorder, Lego and homework club.
Coming up: an open day on Thursday 5 November 2026 and an open day on Thursday 26 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 55% of Year 6 pupils at Kings Ford Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 41% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 76% in Essex and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 61% in reading and 72% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Kings Ford Academy
Across Essex, 90% of families were offered their first-choice primary school for 2026 entry, and 98% were offered one of the schools they named.
In 2026, families in Essex lodged 375 appeals against primary school offers; 241 reached a hearing and 31 succeeded (12.9% of those heard).
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Kings Ford Academy are King's Ford Infant School and Nursery (under 0.1 miles, Good); Montgomery Primary School, Colchester (0.5 miles, Good, 80% reading, 76% maths); St Michael's Primary School and Nursery, Colchester (0.5 miles, Good, 73% reading, 76% maths); and Gosbecks Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 71% reading, 60% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than Kings Ford Academy.
King's Ford Infant School and NurseryMontgomery Primary School, ColchesterSt Michael's Primary School and Nursery, ColchesterGosbecks Primary School
The trust
Kings Ford Academy is one of 5 schools run by Inspires MAT, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 51% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
What parents say
12 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Kings Ford Academy (as of September 2025): 50% would recommend the school, 75% say their child is happy there and 60% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child does well at the school (75%); the weakest, that they would recommend the school (50%).
Staffing
Kings Ford Academy had 7 teachers in 2026, one for every 25 pupils: fewer teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Colchester City Rail Station, about 1.6 miles away in a straight line.
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Boadicea Way South (opposite), 120 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Kings Ford Academy stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Kings Ford Academy issued 28 suspensions, 16.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Kings Ford Academy are Paxman Academy (0.3 miles), Philip Morant School and College (0.7 miles), Colchester County High School for Girls (0.9 miles) and St Benedict's Catholic College (0.9 miles).
Paxman AcademyPhilip Morant School and CollegeColchester County High School for GirlsSt Benedict's Catholic College
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoThis judgement is from June 2018, 8 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Kings Ford Academy has a strong focus on reading and has recently revised its curriculum to be well-planned and ambitious. Pupils with special needs receive excellent support in an inclusive environment, and the school prioritises attendance so pupils can benefit from this improved teaching. Staff are caring and supportive, helping pupils feel safe and valued.
Key Strengths
- Strong focus on reading with effective support for early readers and regular practice with sounds and writing
- Well-planned curriculum with ambitious knowledge sequencing, particularly improving pupils' recall in mathematics
- Effective identification and support for pupils with SEND, creating an inclusive environment
- Staff provide good pastoral support and pupils feel safe and cared for
- High attendance prioritised with additional support for pupils who need it
Areas for Improvement
- Behaviour policy does not ensure consistent responses to inappropriate behaviour - some pupils lack respect and engagement in lessons
- Resources and activities in some subjects are not effective enough at teaching key knowledge
- Reading books for some early readers do not match the sounds they know, affecting confidence and fluency
- High expectations for behaviour not realised consistently - different rules in different classes
- Staff do not always respond quickly to low-level disruption
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective and the school has created an open, positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Greek day, VE day celebrations, school council, librarians, play leaders, after-school club, online safety activities
Kings Ford Academy is a junior school where pupils are happy and recognise the school is improving. The school has a well-planned, ambitious curriculum and prioritises reading, though behaviour expectations are not consistently high across all classes.
At a Glance
29.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
12 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 61% to 55% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 72% to 41% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 61% to 55% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
25.3
Avg class size
25.3
KS2
6
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Kings Ford Academy
Macmillan fundraising
29 Sep 2026
Harvest Festival
28 Sep 2026
Macmillan coffee afternoon
24 Sep 2026
Essex outdoors activities
24 Sep 2026
Change of Menu
23 Sep 2026
Creative writing workshops
16 Sep 2026
From Kings Ford Academy's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Kings Ford Academy
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Kings Ford Academy.
- Premier Education Activities - Kings Ford Infants SchoolAt the school · Not yet graded
- CMXSC @ Gosbecks Primary School850m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Kings Ford Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Kings Ford Academy 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
- 15
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 15 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 14 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
6 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
73%
Available places
175 pupils
240 places
65 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.
Inspection History(3)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
27
SEN Support
9
EHC Plans
23.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
152
Total Pupils
92
Boys
60
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
7
Teachers
21.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£46,055
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,987
Per pupil
£1189k
Total funding
£98k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.7%
Overall absence
20.2%
Persistent absence
198
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Questions parents ask about Kings Ford Academy
What are SATs results like at Kings Ford Academy?
Of the pupils at Kings Ford Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 55% reached the expected standard in reading and 41% did so in maths.
What is Kings Ford Academy's Ofsted rating?
Kings Ford Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2018, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Kings Ford Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Kings Ford Academy is oversubscribed, Essex allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Kings Ford Academy?
Kings Ford Academy was not full in 2025: it ran at 73% of its 240 places.
How big are the classes at Kings Ford Academy?
Classes at Kings Ford Academy average 25.3 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Kings Ford Academy?
Kings Ford Academy has around 152 pupils on roll. 30% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Kings Ford Academy?
6.7% of sessions were missed at Kings Ford Academy in 2024/25. 20.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Kings Ford Academy?
Apply through Essex's coordinated admissions process, naming Kings Ford Academy on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
Does Kings Ford Academy have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Premier Education Activities - Kings Ford Infants School (registered, not yet graded). There is another within a kilometre. The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Kings Ford Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 15 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 14 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 6 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 Kings Ford Academy?
Kings Ford Academy is at Gloucester Avenue, Shrub End, Colchester, Essex, CO2 9AZ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)