Highwoods Community Primary School
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Highwoods Community Primary School is a converter academy in Colchester for boys and girls aged 4 to 11. It has 453 pupils, 3 more than it has places for. About 17 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far fewer than at most schools in England. We give it 85 out of 100. That puts it well above schools like it, ahead of 83% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2024.
Tynedale Square, Highwoods, Colchester, CO4 9SN01206 845887highwoodsprimary.comMr Paul Disley headteacherAll details
What Ofsted found
A shorter visit on 14 June 2024 found nothing to change the school's grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.
Good overall. A shorter follow-up visit found nothing to change that. The last full inspection was before September 2019, which is as far back as Ofsted's public records go, so we can't show its date or the grades for each area.
Results
Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025
63 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England.
All Year 6 measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils tested | 63 | 62 | 64 | 62 | 61 | 61 | – | – |
| Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 78% | 81% | 73% | 74% | 77% | 67% | 64% | 63% |
| Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths | 24% | 26% | 14% | 16% | 5% | 7% | 10% | 8% |
| Reading scoreReading average scaled score | 108.0 | 108.0 | 106.0 | 104.0 | 106.0 | 106.0 | 105.9 | 105.6 |
| Maths scoreMaths average scaled score | 107.0 | 109.0 | 105.0 | 106.0 | 104.0 | 106.0 | 104.8 | 104.6 |
| Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score | 108.0 | 110.0 | 106.0 | 108.0 | 110.0 | 108.0 | 105.3 | 105.2 |
| Expected level: readingReading expected standard | 86% | 89% | 78% | 76% | 92% | 77% | – | – |
| Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard | 86% | 89% | 84% | 87% | 84% | 84% | – | – |
| Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed) | 84% | 84% | 80% | 87% | 89% | 80% | – | – |
| Reading progressReading progress score | – | – | +0.3 | +0.3 | +0.6 | +0.1 | – | – |
| Maths progressMaths progress score | – | – | +0.5 | +1.4 | +0.0 | -0.1 | – | – |
| Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged | 62% | 70% | 69% | 65% | 60% | 50% | – | – |
| Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged | 82% | 83% | 75% | 78% | 80% | 76% | – | – |
There are no progress figures for 2025. That year group missed their Year 2 tests during Covid, so there was no starting point to measure from. Progress figures come back with the December 2026 results. Tests were cancelled altogether in 2020 and 2021.
Does every child do well here?
A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. 2 of the 4 gaps are smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.
At the end of primary school, 2025
Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.
Getting a place
Admissions policy not published.
The school is full, with 3 more pupils than it has places for. More families apply than can get in, so things like how close you live and whether an older brother or sister is already here decide who gets a place. Pupil numbers have grown by 6% since 2021/22, so places are getting harder to come by.
How places were given out for September 2026. The last place was given under this rule: Criterion 4.
| Entry | Places | Applied at all | How far the last child lived | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Primary | 60 | 155 | – | LA |
Who goes here
Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.
Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 29.6 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 30.6 (England 27.3).
The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: emotional and mental health (45), language and communications needs (17), Specific learning difficulty (15), Autistic spectrum disorder (10), Moderate learning difficulty (3), SEN support but no specialist assessment of type of need (2).
How the mix of pupils has changed
| Census | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils on roll | 453 | 447 | 427 | 427 | 427 | 430 |
| Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals | 17% | 18% | 18% | 18% | 18% | 17% |
| Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language | 22% | 21% | 22% | 22% | 20% | 18% |
| Pupils getting extra supportSEN support | – | 20% | 17% | 16% | 16% | 16% |
| Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans | – | 3% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 1% |
Attendance and behaviour
In 2024/25 pupils were in school 95.7% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.
Attendance year by year
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2018/19 | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sessions missedOverall absence | 4.3% | 4.5% | 5.1% | 6.1% | 2.0% | 3.1% | 5.2% |
| Missed with permissionAuthorised absence | 3.8% | 4.0% | 4.7% | 5.7% | 1.9% | 2.5% | – |
| Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.6% | – |
| Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence | 7.2% | 6.7% | 9.0% | 14.3% | 2.9% | 3.2% | 12.8% |
| SuspensionsSuspension rate | 2.2 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 1.9 | – | – |
| Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
Staff and money
From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.
Money
From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other primary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.
Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.
The area around the school
Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.
Nearby schools
The closest primary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brinkley Grove Primary School | Foundation | 570 m | 403 | Not inspected | 59 | Compare |
| St John's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Colchester | Church of England | 770 m | 210 | Good 2022 | 82 | Compare |
| Friars Grove Primary School | Council | 0.7 miles | 408 | Good 2023 | 49 | Compare |
| Queen Boudica Primary School | Council | 0.8 miles | 408 | Good 2023 | 69 | Compare |
| Camulos Academy | Academy | 0.9 miles | 406 | Not inspected | 88 | Compare |
| Willow Brook Primary School and Nursery | Academy | 1.0 miles | 186 | Good 2022 | 17 | Compare |
| Myland Community Primary School | Council | 1.0 miles | 307 | Not inspected | 84 | Compare |
| Parsons Heath Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School | Church of England | 1.1 miles | 197 | Good 2023 | 23 | Compare |
Compared with schools like it
Our score compares Highwoods Community Primary School with the 46 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 46 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.
How the score was worked out
The score is out of 100. A 85 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 85% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 75 to 92. That range is wide enough that the school could sit in the next band, so take the band as a rough guide rather than a verdict. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.
| What we looked at | How much it counts | Against schools like it | Effect on the score | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results over three years | 25% | above | +0.24 | 2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 63 pupils |
| Ofsted inspection | 20% | in line | +0.01 | Ofsted grade, 2.2 years old |
| Progress pupils make | 20% | in line | +0.02 | DfE progress measure; 63 pupils |
| Direction of travel over five years | 10% | above | +0.08 | results and attendance rising year on year |
| Attendance and behaviour | 10% | above | +0.07 | 2024/25; 404 pupils |
| Results, allowing for the mix of pupils | 10% | well above | +0.12 | Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 63 pupils |
| What parents say | 0% | no data | – |
Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.
Questions parents ask
Is Highwoods Community Primary School a good school?
Yes, going by the figures. Highwoods Community Primary School scores 85 out of 100. That is well above schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 83% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 75 to 92, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.
What is Highwoods Community Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated Highwoods Community Primary School good at its last full inspection on 14 June 2024.
How good are Highwoods Community Primary School's SATs results?
In summer 2025, 78% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 24% went further and reached the higher level.
How many pupils does Highwoods Community Primary School have?
453 pupils aged 4 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 450 places, so it is 101% full.
Is Highwoods Community Primary School oversubscribed?
Probably. The school was full in 2024/25, with 3 more pupils than places. How close you live, and the school's other admissions rules, decide who gets in.
What is attendance like at Highwoods Community Primary School?
Pupils were in school 95.7% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 7% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.
How big are the classes at Highwoods Community Primary School?
The average class had 30.2 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. 36% of classes had more than 30 pupils.
These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.
Contact and details
- Address
- Tynedale Square, Highwoods, Colchester, CO4 9SN
- Telephone
- 01206 845887
- Website
- www.highwoodsprimary.com
- Headteacher
- Mr Paul Disley
- Type of school
- Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
- Phase
- Primary school, ages 4-11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Single-academy trust
- Highwoods Community Primary School (1 schools)
- Local authority
- Essex
- Ward
- Highwoods
- Constituency
- Colchester
- Setting
- Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
- Opened
- 1 April 2013 (academy converter)
- URN
- 139462 · LAESTAB 8812424 · UKPRN 10040821
- Formerly
- Highwoods Community Primary School
Where these figures come from
- School details: Department for Education, Get Information About Schools, refreshed daily (this page rebuilt 13 September 2026).
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, monthly; latest publication in our data 27 August 2026.
- Year 6 results: DfE key stage 2 tables, 2024/25.
- Attendance: DfE pupil absence in schools in England, 2024/25 full year.
- Pupil characteristics: DfE school census, January 2026.
- Staff: DfE school workforce census, November 2025.
- Class sizes: DfE schools, pupils and their characteristics, January 2026.
- Pupil premium: DfE allocations and conditions of grant, 2026 to 2027.
- Money: DfE financial benchmarking and insights tool, academy accounts return 2024/25.
- Admissions outcomes: Essex council's published allocation statistics (source), entry years 2026.
- Neighbourhood: police.uk street-level crime, HM Land Registry price paid data, NaPTAN bus stops, English Indices of Deprivation 2025.
- All under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Full list and update calendar.