The Gilberd School is a mainstream secondary school in Colchester, Essex, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 164 of its 1,588 pupils (10.3%) were getting SEN support and 44 (2.8%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 1,588 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Essex.
10.3% get SEN support
164 of 1,588 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
2.8% have an EHC plan
44 of 1,588 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health79
- Autism55
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia43
- Physical disability9
- Moderate learning difficulty7
- Speech, language and communication6
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,588 (places for 1,600)
- Headteacher
- Mr James Mitchell
- Part of
- Alpha Trust
- Free school meals
- 15.4% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Essex
- School reference (URN)
- 137926
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Essex council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Outstanding, November 2018; standards maintained (February 2025)
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in November 2018. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: Standards maintained (ungraded inspection, February 2025).
Contact and getting there
Brinkley Lane, Colchester, CO4 9PU
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Kingswode Hoe School Special school · Ages 5–16 · Ofsted report card (2026) 2.3 miles
- Langham Oaks Special school · Ages 10–16 2.4 miles
- Philip Morant School and College Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 3.1 miles
- Lexden Primary School with Unit for Hearing Impaired Pupils Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 3.4 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Brinkley Grove Primary School Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 17.6%, EHC plans 3.2% 0.2 miles
- Highwoods Community Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 18.3%, EHC plans 2.6% 0.3 miles
- St John's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Colchester Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 8.6%, EHC plans 3.3% 0.6 miles
Questions about The Gilberd School
How many pupils at The Gilberd School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 164 of the 1,588 pupils (10.3%) were getting SEN support and 44 (2.8%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at The Gilberd School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (79 pupils), autism (55 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (43 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at The Gilberd School?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at The Gilberd School?
Through Essex council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to The Gilberd School?
You can ask for The Gilberd School to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does The Gilberd School have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Philip Morant School and College, about 3.1 miles away.
Where is The Gilberd School?
Brinkley Lane, Colchester, CO4 9PU, in Essex.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.