Ofsted: Outstanding trending_up Popular emoji_events #13 in Essex public Top 9% UK

The Gilberd School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr James Mitchell

corporate_fareALPHA TRUST

location_onColchester, CO4 9PU

language Visit Website phone 1206842211

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Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2018

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Students

1,556

trending_up

Attainment 8

53.4

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GCSE Rank

#13 in Essex

#593 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

The Gilberd School is a Academy converter secondary school in Colchester, serving ages 11-16. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade. Demand is above capacity (1.2×) — apply through your local authority on time.

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School Summary

The Gilberd School is an academy converter in Colchester, Essex, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of ALPHA TRUST. The school has approximately 1,574 pupils on roll, of whom 16% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 53.4, placing the school #13 in Essex and #593 of 3,216 nationally. 58.20% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 28.3% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2018. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.2× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 18.8:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 3 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 3.3 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

53.4

Grade 5+ E&M

58.20%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)28.3%

Entering EBacc31.40%

EBacc APS4.76

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.44

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

51.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc24.90%

EBacc APS4.57

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.33

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

49.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc33%

EBacc APS4.44

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.33

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

54.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc38%

EBacc APS4.87

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc39%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.31

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

50.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc68%

EBacc APS4.7

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.38

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

50.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc33%

EBacc APS4.46

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)89%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)90%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)90%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)93%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)91%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

04 February 2025

Inspection Report

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21 November 2018

Inspection Report

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13 March 2018

Inspection Report

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26 November 2013

Inspection Report

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30 January 2013

Inspection Report

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10 August 2012

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2018-11-21

S5 Inspection Legacy

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2018-03-13

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2013-11-26

None Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

3.9%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

3.2%(51 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

3pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,574 pupils. During this period, there were 62 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 3.9%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,574	62	3.9%	7.3%	3
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,581	41	2.6%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,568	75	4.8%	7.4%	5
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,565	51	3.3%	7.1%	3
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,578	77	4.9%	8.2%	3
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,568	30	1.9%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,556	37	2.4%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,557	37	2.4%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,578	20	1.3%	4.7%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,573	54	3.4%	4.9%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,578	47	3.0%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,591	21	1.3%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,586	2	0.1%	1.0%	1
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,590	45	2.8%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,571	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,571	14	0.9%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,583	14	0.9%	4.2%	2
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,534	18	1.2%	3.1%	1
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,534	38	2.5%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,540	35	2.3%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,477	21	1.4%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,480	14	0.9%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,494	19	1.3%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,425	21	1.5%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,425	30	2.1%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,433	16	1.1%	3.1%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 88 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 42 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 37 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 10 pupils

Physical Disability 10 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 6 pupils

Hearing Impairment 3 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 2 pupils

Multi-Sensory Impairment 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

80.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

84.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

16.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree64%

agree20%

disagree12%

strongly disagree4%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree40%

agree40%

disagree4%

strongly disagree16%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree48%

agree12%

disagree12%

strongly disagree4%

not applicable24%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree64%

agree28%

don't know8%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree60%

agree24%

disagree12%

strongly disagree4%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree60%

agree28%

disagree4%

strongly disagree8%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree68%

agree24%

disagree4%

strongly disagree4%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree84%

agree12%

strongly disagree4%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree68%

agree4%

disagree12%

strongly disagree16%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes76%

no24%

Top Secondary Schools in Essex

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford

Outstanding

location_on Chelmsford, CM1 3SX

emoji_events #1 in LA

Chelmsford County High School for Girls

Outstanding

location_on Chelmsford, CM1 1RW

emoji_events #2 in LA

Colchester Royal Grammar School

Inadequate

location_on Colchester, CO3 3ND

emoji_events #3 in LA

Colchester County High School for Girls

Outstanding

location_on Colchester, CO3 3US

emoji_events #4 in LA

Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School

Good

location_on Brentwood, CM14 4EX

emoji_events #5 in LA

Saffron Walden County High School

Outstanding

location_on Saffron Walden, CB11 4UH

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Essex arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Essex

King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford

Chelmsford County High School for Girls

Colchester Royal Grammar School

Colchester County High School for Girls

Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School

Saffron Walden County High School