ALL schools strive to be the best, and the way to typically measure this is through Ofsted reports.

Ofsted - The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills - is a non-ministerial department of the UK government.

The body visits schools for inspections, and over two full days, will spend most of their time observing lessons and talking to a range of pupils and staff about important aspects of the school’s work.

Following this, the school will be ranked ‘outstanding’, ‘good’, ‘requires improvement’ or ‘inadequate’.

A school judged ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ at its most recent inspection will normally receive an inspection approximately every four years, and this will be less if the school is of a lower rating.

Here are the primary schools in and around Colchester ranked good or ‘outstanding’ based on their latest published inspection, which can be full or short inspection visits.

There are some schools that are not yet ranked, this may be because:

  • a newly registered school hasn’t been inspected yet
  • an inspection has taken place recently, but the report hasn’t been published yet
  • a school that has recently become an academy may not have been inspected yet
  • an ‘outstanding’ school that has become an academy may be exempt from routine inspection.

Lawford C of E Voluntary Aided Primary School, The Avenue – OUTSTANDING

Fordham All Saints C of E Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Mill Road – OUTSTANDING

Dedham C of E Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Parson’s Field – OUTSTANDING

Montgomery Infant School and Nursery, Baronswood Way – OUTSTANDING

St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School, Clairmont Road – OUTSTANDING

Millfields Primary School, Bowes Road – OUTSTANDING

Great Bentley Primary School, Plough Road – OUTSTANDING

Kelvedon St Mary’s C of E Primary Academy, Docwra Road – OUTSTANDING

Highfields Primary School, Colchester Road – OUTSTANDING

Hamilton Primary School, Constantine Road – OUTSTANDING

Hazelmere Junior School, Hawthorn Avenue – GOOD

Mersea Island School, Barfield Road – GOOD

Milldene Primary School, Barbrook Lane – GOOD

Roach Vale Primary School, Roach Vale – GOOD

St Andrew's C of E Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Mandeville Road - GOOD

Stratford St Mary Primary School, Stratford St Mary – GOOD

Holy Trinity C of E Primary School, Fiddlers Folley – GOOD

St Mary’s C of E Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Colchester Road – GOOD

St John’s C of E Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Clay Lane Grove – GOOD

Stanway Fiveways Primary School, Winstree Road – GOOD

St Peter’s C of E Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Myneer Park – GOOD

Willow Brook Primary School and Nursery, Barnardiston Road – GOOD

Stanway Primary School, Villa Road – GOOD

Chappel C of E Controlled Primary School, The Street – GOOD

Unity Primary School, Hickory Avenue – GOOD

Layer-de-la-Haye C of E Voluntary Controlled Primary School, High Road – GOOD

Queen Boudica Primary School, Cowper Crescent – GOOD

North Primary School and Nursery, John Harper Street – GOOD

St John’s Green Primary School, St John’s Green – GOOD

St George’s School, Canterbury Road – GOOD

Boxted St Peter’s C of E School, Charter’s Hill – GOOD

Fingringhoe C of E Voluntary Aided Primary School, Church Road – GOOD

Parsons Health C of E Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Templewood Road – GOOD

Alresford Primary School, Ford Lane – GOOD

St George’s C of E Primary School, Brook Street – GOOD

Lexden Primary School with Unit for Hearing Impaired Pupils, Trafalgar Road​ - GOOD

Friars Grove Primary School, Upland Drive – GOOD

Kendall C of E Primary School, Recreation Road – GOOD

Langham Primary School, School Road – GOOD

Gosbecks Primary School, Owen Ward Close – GOOD

Hazelmere Infant School and Nursery, Hawthorn Avenue – GOOD

Iceni Academy, Gloucester Avenue – GOOD

Prettygate Junior School, Plume Avenue – GOOD

Great Tey C of E Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Chrismund Way – GOOD

Braiswick Primary School, Apprentice Drive – GOOD

Messing Primary School, School Road – GOOD

Heathlands C of E Voluntary Controlled Primary School, New Church Road – GOOD

St Luke’s C of E Controlled Primary School, Church Road – GOOD

Broomgrove Junior School, Broom Grove – GOOD

King’s Ford Infant School and Nursery, Gloucester Avenue – GOOD

St Lawrence C of E Primary School, Rectory Road – GOOD

Highwoods Community Primary School, Tynedale Square – GOOD

Langenhoe Community Primary School, Bracken Way – GOOD

Brinkley Grove Primary School, Rawlings Crescent – GOOD

Monkwick Infant and Nursery School, School Road – GOOD

Camulos Academy, Whitmore Drive – GOOD

St Michael’s Primary School and Nursery, Camulodunum Way – GOOD

St James’ C of E Primary School, Guildford Road – GOOD

Elmstead Primary School, Elmcroft, Holly Way – GOOD

Prettygate Infant School, Plume Avenue – GOOD

Nayland Primary School, Bear Street – GOOD

Montgomery Junior School, Baronswood Way – GOOD

Lexden Springs School, Winstree Road – GOOD

Birch C of E Voluntary Aided Primary School, School Hill – GOOD

Myland Community Primary School, Mill Road – GOOD

The Bishop William Ward C of E Primary School, Coach Road – GOOD

Capel St Mary C of E Voluntary Controlled Primary School, The Street – GOOD

Baynards Primary School, Townsend Road – GOOD

Copford C of E Voluntary Controlled Primary School, School Road – GOOD

Old Heath Community Primary School, Old Heath Road – GOOD

Broomgrove Infant School, Broom Grove – GOOD

Cherry Tree Academy, Holt Drive, Mersea Road – GOOD