Colchester Royal Grammar School is a mainstream secondary school in Colchester, Essex, for boys aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 86 of its 1,073 pupils (8%) were getting SEN support and 4 (0.4%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,073 pupils
- Boys only
- Ofsted report card (2026)
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Essex.
8% get SEN support
86 of 1,073 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
0.4% have an EHC plan
4 of 1,073 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 health32
- Autism20
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia16
- Speech, language and communication9
- Hearing impairment6
- Physical disability5
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 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys only
- Pupils
- 1,073 (places for 777)
- Admissions
- Selective (a grammar school)
- Headteacher
- Mr John Russell
- Part of
- The Thinking Schools Academy Trust
- Faith
- Christian
- Free school meals
- 4.7% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Essex
- School reference (URN)
- 149899
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
Report card, April 2026: Exceptional in 4 of 7 areas
Inspected in April 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionStrong standard
- Curriculum and teachingExceptional
- AchievementExceptional
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
- Post-16Exceptional
- Leadership and governanceExceptional
- SafeguardingMet
Contact and getting there
Lexden Road, Colchester, CO3 3ND
Loading the map…
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) 0.3 miles
- Philip Morant School and College Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 0.8 miles
- The Willows Independent · Ages 11–17 1.4 miles
- Lexden Primary School with Unit for Hearing Impaired Pupils Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.6 miles
Other mainstream schools
Questions about Colchester Royal Grammar School
How many pupils at Colchester Royal Grammar School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 86 of the 1,073 pupils (8%) were getting SEN support and 4 (0.4%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Colchester Royal Grammar School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (32 pupils), autism (20 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (16 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Colchester Royal Grammar 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 Colchester Royal Grammar 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 Colchester Royal Grammar School?
You can ask for Colchester Royal Grammar 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 Colchester Royal Grammar 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 0.8 miles away.
Where is Colchester Royal Grammar School?
Lexden Road, Colchester, CO3 3ND, 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.