The Gilberd School, Colchester

In its own words: "We hope your visit here will leave you with an insight into who we are and what we are about. It is our firm belief that the richest educational experience comes from quality and breadth of opportunity. We strive tirelessly to offer the broadest range of outstanding learning experiences to the young people of north Colchester and beyond."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Founded in 1912 and celebrating 110 years in 2022, we are proud of our rich heritage. Beginning life as a selective boys’ technical school and later, a co-educational grammar school, we are now a highly performing and forward-looking, non-selective, co-educational academy."

In 2026, pupils at The Gilberd School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 49.9, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.5 in Essex and 47 across England.

50% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 45% in Essex and 47% in England.

That is down from 53.4 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.44: 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 38.3, against 52.2 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 13.9 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 25 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and History.

For September 2026 entry, 401 families put The Gilberd School as their first choice and 1183 named it as one of their preferences, for 306 places offered. That is 1.3 first choices for every place. 134 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to The Gilberd School are The Trinity School (under 0.1 miles, Attainment 8 49.6); Colchester Academy (1.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 35.3); St Helena School (1.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42.4); and Colchester Royal Grammar School (2.4 miles, selective, Attainment 8 80.9).

The Gilberd School's 2026 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

The Gilberd School is one of 5 schools run by Alpha Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 59.8 in 2024/25.

231 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Gilberd School (as of September 2025): 83% would recommend the school, 84% say their child is happy there and 63% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (89%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (63%).

Of the 313 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 91% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 36% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

15.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 164 pupils (10.3%) received SEN support and 44 (2.8%) 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.

The nearest railway station is Colchester Rail Station, about 1.5 miles away in a straight line.

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Gilberd School (opposite), 130 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 170 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.

In 2024/25, The Gilberd School issued 155 suspensions, 9.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 7 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to The Gilberd School are Brinkley Grove Primary School (under 0.1 miles); Highwoods Community Primary School (0.3 miles); St John's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Colchester (0.6 miles); and Camulos Academy (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.