St Benedict's Catholic College, Colchester

From the headteacher's welcome: "St Benedict’s Catholic College serves Christian families throughout north-east Essex, striving to promote the values of our Christian faith throughout our daily life. As our mission statement says, we are proud to be an inclusive community where spiritual, emotional and academic growth are nurtured. We are proud of our caring ethos and academic success. We believe in putting learning first."

In 2026, pupils at St Benedict's Catholic College averaged an Attainment 8 score of 58.4, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.5 in Essex and 47 across England.

76% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 45% in Essex and 47% in England.

That is up from 54.7 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.23: pupils made above average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 51.6, against 59.3 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 7.7 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 23 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Combined Science and French.

For September 2026 entry, 213 families put St Benedict's Catholic College as their first choice and 768 named it as one of their preferences, for 173 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 71 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to St Benedict's Catholic College are Colchester County High School for Girls (under 0.1 miles, Outstanding, selective, Attainment 8 79.7); Philip Morant School and College (0.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.6); Colchester Royal Grammar School (0.5 miles, selective, Attainment 8 80.9); and St Helena School (0.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42.4).

St Benedict's Catholic College's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Of the 179 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 90% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 25% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

9.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

The nearest railway station is Colchester City Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Norman Way Schools (outside), 180 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St Benedict's Catholic College 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 243 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Essex (97), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, St Benedict's Catholic College issued 36 suspensions, 4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to St Benedict's Catholic College are Hamilton Primary School (0.5 miles), Prettygate Infant School (0.6 miles), Prettygate Junior School (0.6 miles) and Home Farm Primary School (0.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.