Kingswode Hoe School, Colchester
Kingswode Hoe School is a special school for pupils aged 5 to 16 in Colchester, part of Seax Trust. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2026, ended in a report card: 6 strong standard. Before that it was rated Good at its last graded inspection, in September 2014.
- Ofsted report card
- 6 of 6 areas strong or better
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Kingswode Hoe School in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 9 June 2026 inspection grades Kingswode Hoe School on 6 areas: 6 strong standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Achievement - Strong standard. "Pupils successfully secure their next steps in education or training."
Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders explore every option to reduce barriers to pupils' attendance at school."
Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Leaders review and refine the curriculum astutely to meet pupils' needs."
Inclusion - Strong standard. "There is a highly effective and multi-layered approach to identifying and meeting the varying needs of pupils."
Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders place meeting the needs of pupils at the heart of the school's provision."
Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The school's personal development programme is purposeful and highly impactful."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue their plans to enrich and further widen pupils' work-related opportunities. This is with a view to deepening pupils' knowledge and understanding of employability skills while also developing their independence"; "Leaders should ensure that they sustain the quality of leadership as they widen and extend their roles and responsibilities".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Kingswode Hoe School are The Willows (1.3 miles); Lexden Springs School (1.7 miles); Doucecroft School (2.5 miles, Requires improvement); and Langham Oaks (4.7 miles, Requires improvement).
The WillowsLexden Springs SchoolDoucecroft SchoolLangham Oaks
The trust
Kingswode Hoe School is one of 5 schools run by Seax Trust, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 26 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 77% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 39% to a further education college.
Who goes there
56.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 1.8% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Kingswode Hoe School has an education, health and care plan (166 of 167 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Kingswode Hoe School provides for pupils with other difficulties or disabilities, autism and moderate learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Colchester Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Park Road (opposite), 300 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Kingswode Hoe School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 431 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Essex (97), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Kingswode Hoe School issued 2 suspensions, 1.3 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; 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 · 4 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- AchievementStrong standard
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
- InclusionStrong standard
- Leadership and governanceStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at Kingswode Hoe School
Pupils' camaraderie is a notable feature of this school. Their warm interactions with one another and with staff make school a happy and safe place to be. Pupils learn to communicate with success. This may be learning to greet others or expressing a want. Staff use adeptly a variety of communication aids and visual tools to support pupils. For those pupils who can express themselves more fully, they chat and use humour with people they meet for the first time. This is testament to a well delivered curriculum that serves precisely the needs of pupils. This includes those pupils with a range of needs, such as severe cognitive learning difficulties alongside autism. Pupils progress well. They achieve the small incremental steps to their education, health and care plan targets. Staff readily extend pupils' learning in their lessons and everyday activities. Pupils rise to this challenge. For instance, they persevere in their forest school sessions when whittling wood or creating fire. There are a plethora of opportunities for pupils to nurture their talents and interests. They enjoy cooking food and creating products to sell in the on site café and shop. Pupils are proud of their achievements, such as overcoming diversity to secure the Duke of Edinburgh award. Many lead activities during play or represent others' views, for instance through eco club or school council. The careful and deliberate design of personal development programmes helps pupils develop the skills they need to be emotionally resilient and independent. Hence, pupils behave well. When they feel overly anxious or overwhelmed they have the tools they need to help themselves to reset and start again. Older pupils know and can explain the nature of their needs and why they may act in certain ways. Consequently, they are prepared well for when they leave school to carry on their education or undertake training.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders should continue their plans to enrich and further widen pupils' work-related opportunities. This is with a view to deepening pupils' knowledge and understanding of employability skills while also developing their independence.
- Leaders should ensure that they sustain the quality of leadership as they widen and extend their roles and responsibilities.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 9 June 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Kingswode Hoe School creates a happy, safe environment where pupils with complex needs thrive. Staff use highly effective teaching methods and communication aids to help every child succeed, with many pupils achieving qualifications and developing real independence. The school is particularly strong at helping pupils develop confidence and resilience, preparing them well for their futures.
Key Strengths
- Pupils achieve well and secure their next steps in education or training, including GCSEs in art, craft and design
- Staff effectively manage behaviour using child-centred approaches that help pupils understand their emotions and manage anxiety
- Curriculum is carefully tailored to pupils' needs with strong focus on communication, reading and writing
- Highly effective multi-layered approach to inclusion with targeted support matched to individual needs
- Personal development programme is ambitious and purposeful, building pupils' independence and life skills
Areas for Improvement
- Continue to expand and enrich work-related opportunities to deepen pupils' employability skills and independence
- Sustain the quality of leadership as roles and responsibilities are widened within the staff team
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met with an open and positive culture where all staff take responsibility for identifying and acting on concerns.
Extracurricular Activities
Forest school, Duke of Edinburgh award, school council, eco club, work experience, cooking, on-site café and shop, drawing and talking therapy
Kingswode Hoe School is a special school that successfully supports pupils with complex needs including speech, language and communication difficulties, and autism. The school has achieved a strong standard across all areas of inspection with particular strengths in pupil achievement, behaviour, and personal development.
At a Glance
56.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Other, Autism, MLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Kingswode Hoe School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Kingswode Hoe School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Kingswode Hoe 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
- 4
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 3 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot.
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
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
114%
Over capacity
167 pupils
147 places
20 pupils over capacity
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.
Inspection History(4)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
1
SEN Support
166
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Kingswode Hoe School provides for pupils with other difficulties or disabilities, autism and moderate learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
167
Total Pupils
112
Boys
55
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
15
Teachers
11.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£58,772
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
11.9%
Overall absence
25.8%
Persistent absence
159
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Kingswode Hoe School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Kingswode Hoe School
What are GCSE results like at Kingswode Hoe School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Kingswode Hoe School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 1. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Kingswode Hoe School's Ofsted rating?
Kingswode Hoe School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in September 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Kingswode Hoe School?
No fixed boundary. When Kingswode Hoe School is oversubscribed, Essex allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Kingswode Hoe School?
Kingswode Hoe School has around 167 pupils on roll. 57% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Kingswode Hoe School have specialist SEN provision?
Kingswode Hoe School provides for pupils with other difficulties or disabilities, autism and moderate learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Kingswode Hoe School?
11.9% of sessions were missed at Kingswode Hoe School in 2024/25. 25.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Kingswode Hoe School?
Apply through Essex's coordinated admissions process, naming Kingswode Hoe School 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.
How many road collisions happen near Kingswode Hoe School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 3 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot. 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 Kingswode Hoe School?
Kingswode Hoe School is at Sussex Road, Colchester, Essex, CO3 3QJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)