The short version
Below-average SATs results. At capacity. Rated Good by Ofsted (2019).
- SATs results are below the national average, with 48% meeting the expected standard (national: 62%)
- Rated Good by Ofsted in 2019
- This is a Church of England school, so faith criteria may apply to admissions
Performance
DfE published dataOfficial DfE Results
Reading, Writing & Maths
Expected standard
Pupils meeting expected level in all three
48%
-14.0pp vs nationalHigher standard
Pupils exceeding expected level
8%
0.0pp vs nationalSubject scores
Reading
Average scaled score (100 = expected)
107
+1.0 vs nationalMaths
Average scaled score (100 = expected)
103
-2.0 vs nationalGrammar & spelling
Average scaled score (100 = expected)
105
Source: Department for Education Performance Tables 2024-25
Attendance
In practice: Pupils miss about 11 days per year on average — nearly a month of school.
16% of pupils miss 10% or more of school
2% of pupils miss half or more of school sessions
Source: DfE School Census
Staffing
On average, 26 pupils share each qualified teacher, but with teaching assistants there's 1 adult for every 14 pupils.
Staff breakdown
Plus 33 other support staff
Source: DfE School Workforce Census
School details
Published dataProfile
- Type
- Academy sponsor led
- Phase
- Primary
- Ages
- 2–11
- Intake
- Mixed
- Character
- Church of England
Numbers
- Pupils
- 456
- Capacity
- 100%
- FSM
- 23.6%
Governance
- Local authority
- Essex
- Trust
- THE DIOCESE OF CHELMSFORD VINE SCHOOLS TRUST
- Head
- Lucy Turner
Provisions
- Sixth form
- No
- Nursery
- Yes
Inspection record
Official linksSchool inspection
2 official reports linked on this page, including 1 earlier report.
Previous reports
Location
Guildford Road, Colchester, Essex, CO1 2RA
Town setting
Schools nearby
Within 2.5 kmSt Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester
Primary · 379m away
Willow Brook Primary School and Nursery
Primary · 1.0km away
St John's Green Primary School
Primary · 1.1km away
The Sixth Form College Colchester
16 plus · 1.2km away
WoodGrove
Independent · 1.2km away
North Primary School and Nursery
Primary · 1.2km away
Friars Grove Primary School
Primary · 1.6km away
Colchester Prep & High School
Independent · 1.6km away
Questions parents ask
What is St James the Great Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St James the Great Church of England Primary School was rated Good at its most recent inspection in January 2025. Full reports are linked on this page.
How many pupils attend St James the Great Church of England Primary School?
St James the Great Church of England Primary School currently has 456 pupils on roll, according to the latest Department for Education data.
What ages does St James the Great Church of England Primary School take?
St James the Great Church of England Primary School caters for pupils aged 2 to 11. It is classified as a primary school.
Where is St James the Great Church of England Primary School?
St James the Great Church of England Primary School is in Colchester, CO1 2RA, in the Essex local authority area. The map on this page shows the exact location and nearby schools.
Does St James the Great Church of England Primary School have a sixth form?
No, St James the Great Church of England Primary School does not have a sixth form. Pupils move to a different school or college for post-16 study.
Premium school profiles
Researching a selective school?
We hold deep admissions intelligence on the UK's top selective schools — exam breakdowns, interview formats, and parent strategy briefs.