North East Essex Co-operative Academy, Colchester
North East Essex Co-operative Academy is an all-through school for pupils aged 4 to 16 in Colchester, part of Keys Co-Operative Academy Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2024.
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
North East Essex Co-operative Academy in detail
Getting a place at North East Essex Co-operative Academy
Across Essex, 83% of families were offered their first-choice secondary school for 2026 entry, and 97% were offered one of the schools they named.
In 2026, families in Essex lodged 542 appeals against secondary school offers; 406 reached a hearing and 57 succeeded (14% of those heard).
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state secondary schools to North East Essex Co-operative Academy are The Trinity School (0.8 miles, Attainment 8 49.6); The Gilberd School (0.8 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 49.9); St Helena School (1.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42.4); and Colchester Royal Grammar School (1.9 miles, selective, Attainment 8 80.9).
The Trinity SchoolThe Gilberd SchoolSt Helena SchoolColchester Royal Grammar School
The trust
North East Essex Co-operative Academy is one of 3 schools run by Keys Co-Operative Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 22 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 23% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 23% to a further education college.
Who goes there
61% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (87%) and Mixed (8%).
In 2026, 63 pupils (60%) received SEN support and 26 (24.8%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Colchester Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.
13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Beaumont Close (opposite), 40 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 210 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.
Primary schools nearby
The primary schools closest to North East Essex Co-operative Academy are Myland Community Primary School (0.3 miles), Camulos Academy (0.4 miles), Queen Boudica Primary School (0.5 miles) and Highwoods Community Primary School (0.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.
Myland Community Primary SchoolCamulos AcademyQueen Boudica Primary SchoolHighwoods Community Primary School
Sources: DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; 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
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils are positive about their experience and the 'amazing staff' at this academy. For many it is another opportunity to learn so they can attain their next steps in education, employment or training. Staff help pupils reflect on and address the barriers that have stood in their way of securing an education previously. Through the caring support of staff, pupils learn strategies to cope and be emotionally resilient. Thus, enabling them to learn and manage their behaviour.
All three settings at this academy are calm and nurturing places to be. Staff know pupils exceptionally well. They judge expertly when to help pupils try opportunities outside of their comfort zones, such as tobogganing and fossil hunting along the coast.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The curriculum is ambitious and appropriate for the length of time pupils will be in the setting. There is a wide curriculum offer, including GCSEs and vocational qualifications. Pupils follow studies linked to the national curriculum. The close liaison with local schools ensures that pupils cover what is the norm, such as particular texts in the English curriculum.
There is consistency with the quality of teaching across the settings. Teachers have good subject knowledge. In the secondary setting, pupils receive teaching from specialists. Teachers look carefully at what pupils know and can do. This includes checking what pupils remember if they are absent for a period. This information helps teachers set work appropriately for pupils' starting points. As a result, pupils are confident in their learning when they start attending again. Those who receive remote education have bespoke learning that considers their personal circumstances and medical needs.
From Ofsted's July 2024 inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its July 2024 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
61.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 4 nearby all-through schools
Keep up with North East Essex Co-operative Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to North East Essex Co-operative Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. North East Essex Co-operative 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
- 23
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 23 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 19 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
11 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
54%
Available places
105 pupils
196 places
91 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.
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
63
SEN Support
26
EHC Plans
84.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
105
Total Pupils
70
Boys
35
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
33
Teachers
3.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£59,658
Mean salary
2026 data
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
North East Essex Co-operative Academy
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about North East Essex Co-operative Academy
What is North East Essex Co-operative Academy's Ofsted rating?
North East Essex Co-operative Academy was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2024.
What is the catchment area for North East Essex Co-operative Academy?
No fixed boundary. When North East Essex Co-operative Academy is oversubscribed, Essex allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to North East Essex Co-operative Academy?
North East Essex Co-operative Academy has around 105 pupils on roll. 61% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to North East Essex Co-operative Academy?
Apply through Essex's coordinated admissions process, naming North East Essex Co-operative 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.
How many road collisions happen near North East Essex Co-operative Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 23 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 19 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 11 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 North East Essex Co-operative Academy?
North East Essex Co-operative Academy is at Walnut Tree Way, Colchester, CO2 9BS.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)