St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester, Colchester
St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Colchester, part of The Rosary Trust - A Catholic Multi Academy. It has a Catholic religious character. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the highest of the 66 schools in Colchester with published results, and 172nd of 14,452 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.3 first-choice applications for every place. It was 99% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2023)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- In line with England
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
St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester in detail
Results
In 2025, 100% of Year 6 pupils at St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester reached the expected standard in reading and 97% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 76% in Essex and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (100% in reading, 100% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester
For September 2026 entry, 39 families put St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester as their first choice and 81 named it as one of their preferences, for 31 places offered. That is 1.3 first choices for every place. 10 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester are St James the Great Church of England Primary School (0.2 miles, Good, 79% reading, 70% maths); St John's Green Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 74% reading, 82% maths); St. George's School (0.7 miles, Good, 67% reading, 62% maths); and North Primary School and Nursery (0.7 miles, Good, 65% reading, 63% maths).
St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
St James the Great Church of England Primary SchoolSt John's Green Primary SchoolSt. George's SchoolNorth Primary School and Nursery
The trust
St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester is one of 7 schools run by The Rosary Trust - A Catholic Multi Academy, an academy trust.
All 7 schools in The Rosary Trust - A Catholic Multi Academy
Who goes there
6.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 31.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (40%), Black (19%) and Asian (10%).
In 2026, 17 pupils (8.1%) received SEN support and 1 (0.5%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Colchester Town Rail Station, about 400 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Surgery (outside), 100 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 654 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, St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester issued 1 suspension, 0.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester are Colchester Royal Grammar School (0.9 miles), St Helena School (0.9 miles), Colchester Academy (1.4 miles) and The Thomas Lord Audley School (1.4 miles).
Colchester Royal Grammar SchoolSt Helena SchoolColchester AcademyThe Thomas Lord Audley School
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; 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 agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its November 2023 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
6.7%
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 remained stable at around 100% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 97% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 97% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.9
Avg class size
29.7
Infant (KS1)
30.0
KS2
7
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester.
- Colchester Leisure World Kid's Camp940m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester 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
- 61
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 13
- Children hurt
- 9
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 61 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 13 serious and 47 slight.
9 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise.
8 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 St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester
Will you get a place at St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Essex, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester 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
99%
Near capacity
209 pupils
210 places
1 spare place 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: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
17
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
8.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
209
Total Pupils
113
Boys
96
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
13
Teachers
16.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,868
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,025
Per pupil
£1135k
Total funding
£14k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.6%
Overall absence
8.6%
Persistent absence
185
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
St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester
Questions parents ask about St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester
What are SATs results like at St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester?
Of the pupils at St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 100% reached the expected standard in reading and 97% did so in maths.
What is St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester's Ofsted rating?
St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2023.
What is the catchment area for St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester?
No fixed boundary. When St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester is oversubscribed, Essex allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester?
St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester was full in 2025, at 100% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester?
Classes at St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester average 29.9 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester?
St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester has around 209 pupils on roll. 7% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester?
4.6% of sessions were missed at St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester in 2024/25. 8.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester?
Apply through Essex's coordinated admissions process, naming St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester 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.
Does St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester: Colchester Leisure World Kid's Camp (940m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 61 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 13 serious and 47 slight. 9 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise. 8 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 St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester?
St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester is at Priory Street, Colchester, Essex, CO1 2QB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)