Highwoods Community Primary School

Colchester · CO4 9SN

General information Primary School · 4-11 years Who goes here 453 pupils, 17.2% FSM

Parent score Rate this school No reviews yet - be the first SEN 18.3% on SEN support Behaviour 4.3% absence rate Staff 6.2% turnover Financials £5,982 per pupil Environment Buildings and facilities

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Highwoods Community Primary School

General Information

Address: Tynedale Square, Highwoods, Colchester, CO4 9SN – View on map
Phone: 01206845887
Website: Visit school website
Headteacher: Mr Paul Disley
Age range: 4-11 years
Demand for places (Reception, September 2026): 70 families put it first for 60 places – 12 for every 10 places. 84% of them were offered a place. No places went to families living outside the council area. Children putting it first, for every 10 places: 2023 13 · 2024 11 · 2025 12 · 2026 12
Sixth form: No
Intake: Mixed
Religious character: Does not apply
Nursery provision: No

Who goes here

453 pupils out of 450 places At or near capacity

Pupils eligible for free school meals: 78
% eligible for free school meals: 17.2%
Pupil mix: 6 in 10 (more mixed than the Colchester average)
English as an additional language: 22% (England 22%)

Staff

Teachers leaving each year

Teacher turnover: 6.2% a year (Colchester 13.4%, typical in England 13.9%) Low turnover
Where they went: about 59% moved to another school, 41% left state schools altogether (retirement, other careers, independent schools, abroad)
Data years: 2022/23 to 2024/25 (average of 3 years, DfE school workforce census)

Teachers who moved school or left state schools in the year after each November, as a share of all the school's teachers. Some turnover is healthy – retirements, promotions, moving house. "Low turnover" means it's among the quarter of similar schools in England where teachers are most likely to stay.

Behaviour

Awaiting Data

About this Behaviour status

We've asked this school for real behaviour figures under Freedom of Information and haven't had a response yet.

Across Essex: suspensions by reason

Suspensions for sexual misconduct: 28 (0.2 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.2)
Permanent exclusions for sexual misconduct: 0
Suspensions for bullying: 17 (0.1 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.2)
Suspensions for abuse against sexual orientation or gender identity: 7 (0.1 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.0)
Data year: 2024/25 (DfE suspensions and exclusions statistics)

These are figures for all state primary schools in Essex (the council area this school is in), not this school's own – the government doesn't publish them school by school. A suspension can have up to three reasons. Most sexual harassment between pupils never leads to a suspension, so these figures show only part of the picture.

Attendance

Overall absence: 4.3%
Persistently absent pupils: 7.2%
Data year: 2024/25

About persistent absence

A pupil is counted as "persistently absent" if they miss 10% or more of their possible school sessions - roughly one day in every two weeks. Schools and Ofsted both pay close attention to this figure specifically, since it can highlight a pattern the overall absence rate alone might hide.

SEN

No dedicated Unit or Resourced Provision

SEN Unit and Resourced Provision

Most mainstream schools don't have a dedicated SEN Unit or Resourced Provision - it isn't a mark against a school that doesn't, just a different kind of setup than one that does.

Pupils on SEN Support: 18.3%
Pupils with an EHC Plan: 2.6%
Data year: 2025/26

Most common needs - SEN Support

Social, emotional and mental health: 44 pupils
Specific learning difficulty: 15 pupils
Speech, language and communications needs: 12 pupils
Autistic spectrum disorder: 4 pupils
Moderate learning difficulty: 3 pupils

Most common needs - EHC Plan

Autistic spectrum disorder: 6 pupils
Speech, language and communications needs: 5 pupils
Social, emotional and mental health: 1 pupil

These figures show the makeup of the school.

About these SEND figures

These figures give a sense of the makeup of the school - they aren't a judgement on the quality of support provided.

Parent score - no reviews yet –

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Behaviour

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Openness

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Teaching Quality

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School Ethos

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Ability to Deal with Problems

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Headteacher Approval

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SafeguardingSafeguarding (parent rating)How parents rate the school on keeping children safe - how safe their child feels, and how well concerns are listened to and acted on. It's parents' experience, not an inspection result; Ofsted checks safeguarding separately.

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Wraparound CareWraparound Care (parent rating)How parents rate the school's breakfast and after-school clubs - availability, cost and quality. Only asked for infant, junior and primary schools, where it matters most for working parents.

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Would recommend –

Educational Attainment

Good 2024 report

About this Ofsted rating

Ofsted changed how it rates schools in the last couple of years, so ratings from different years aren't always on the same scale - that's why we show the year alongside every rating.

Year 6 SATs results

Met the expected standard in reading, writing & maths: 78% (England 62%)
Reached the higher standard: 24% (England 8%)
Compared with the area: 14 percentage points above the Colchester average (64%)
Compared with schools with similar pupils: Well above (3-year average 77% against an expected 63%)
3-year average (expected standard): 77%
Expected standard by subject: Reading 86% · Writing 84% · Maths 86% · Grammar, punctuation & spelling 86%
Average test scores: reading 108, maths 107
Based on: 63 Year 6 pupils, 2024/25

View the School Context Comparator – how this school's SATs results compare with schools teaching similar pupils.

SATs results over time

This schoolColchester averageEngland↗ Improving Up 5 percentage points since 2022/23. In 2024/25 this school was 14 percentage points above the Colchester average (64%).

Year 6 SATs: joint 8th of 56 junior and primary schools in the area

=6Cherry Tree Academy79%
=6Hamilton Primary School79%
=8Highwoods Community Primary School78%
=8Langenhoe Community Primary School78%
=10Boxted St Peter's Church of England School77%

Click to see the full ranking

Year 6 SATs ranking

Junior and primary schools in this area, ranked by the % of Year 6 pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (official DfE results, 2024/25). Schools with the same result share a place (shown as =). In small schools one or two children can move a school several places, so treat close positions as roughly equal.

Rank School Score

#1St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester93%
#2Heathlands Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, West Bergholt86%
#3Copford Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School85%
#4Dedham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School83%
#5Camulos Academy80%
=6Cherry Tree Academy79%
=6Hamilton Primary School79%
=8Highwoods Community Primary School78%
=8Langenhoe Community Primary School78%
=10Boxted St Peter's Church of England School77%
=10Milldene Primary School77%
=10Prettygate Junior School77%
=13Brinkley Grove Primary School76%
=13Myland Community Primary School76%
=13St Andrew's Church of England Primary Academy, Marks Tey76%
=16Home Farm Primary School75%
=16Layer-de-la-Haye Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School75%
#18St Teresa's Catholic Primary School, Colchester74%
=19Kendall Church of England Primary School72%
=19St John's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Colchester72%
#21Holy Trinity CofE Primary School, Eight Ash Green and Aldham71%
=22Old Heath Community Primary School70%
=22Unity Primary Academy70%
#24St Luke's Church of England Controlled Primary School68%
=25Baynards Primary School67%
=25Lexden Primary School with Unit for Hearing Impaired Pupils67%
=25Montgomery Primary School, Colchester67%
=28Braiswick Primary School66%
=28Queen Boudica Primary School66%
=30Chappel CofE Controlled Primary School63%
=30St Lawrence Church of England Primary School, Rowhedge63%
=30The Bishop William Ward Church of England Primary School63%
=33St John's Green Primary School61%
=33Stanway Primary School61%
#35Fordham All Saints CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School60%
#36Friars Grove Primary School59%
#37Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School58%
#38Roach Vale Primary School57%
=39Mersea Island School56%
=39St Michael's Primary School and Nursery, Colchester56%
=39St. George's School56%
#42Birch Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School55%
=43Fingringhoe Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School54%
=43Monkwick Junior School54%
=43Stanway Fiveways Primary School54%
#46Gosbecks Primary School53%
#47Willow Brook Primary School and Nursery50%
#48St James the Great Church of England Primary School48%
=49Broomgrove Junior School47%
=49Millfields Primary School47%
=49North Primary School and Nursery47%
=49Parsons Heath Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School47%
=49Tiptree Heath Primary School47%
#54Hazelmere Junior School38%
#55Messing Primary School36%
#56Kings Ford Academy29%

View full Ofsted inspection report

15th of 43 primary schools in Colchester for Ofsted rating

#13Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolGood
#14Heathlands Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, West BergholtGood
#15Highwoods Community Primary SchoolGood
#16Holy Trinity CofE Primary School, Eight Ash Green and AldhamGood
#17Kendall Church of England Primary SchoolGood

Click to see the full ranking

Ofsted Rating ranking

Based on real Ofsted ratings (via official DfE data) for schools on the same four-word grading scale.

Rank School Score

#1Lakelands Primary SchoolOutstanding
#2St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, ColchesterOutstanding
#3Birch Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolGood
#4Boxted St Peter's Church of England SchoolGood
#5Braiswick Primary SchoolGood
#6Brinkley Grove Primary SchoolGood
#7Camulos AcademyGood
#8Cherry Tree AcademyGood
#9Dedham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolGood
#10Fingringhoe Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolGood
#11Friars Grove Primary SchoolGood
#12Gosbecks Primary SchoolGood
#13Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolGood
#14Heathlands Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, West BergholtGood
#15Highwoods Community Primary SchoolGood
#16Holy Trinity CofE Primary School, Eight Ash Green and AldhamGood
#17Kendall Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#18Langenhoe Community Primary SchoolGood
#19Langham Primary AcademyGood
#20Layer-de-la-Haye Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolGood
#21Lexden Primary School with Unit for Hearing Impaired PupilsGood
#22Mersea Island SchoolGood
#23Messing Primary SchoolGood
#24Milldene Primary SchoolGood
#25Montgomery Primary School, ColchesterGood
#26Myland Community Primary SchoolGood
#27North Primary School and NurseryGood
#28Parsons Heath Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolGood
#29Queen Boudica Primary SchoolGood
#30Roach Vale Primary SchoolGood
#31St Andrew's Church of England Primary Academy, Marks TeyGood
#32St James the Great Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#33St John's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, ColchesterGood
#34St John's Green Primary SchoolGood
#35St Lawrence Church of England Primary School, RowhedgeGood
#36St Luke's Church of England Controlled Primary SchoolGood
#37St. George's SchoolGood
#38Stanway Fiveways Primary SchoolGood
#39Stanway Primary SchoolGood
#40The Bishop William Ward Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#41Willow Brook Primary School and NurseryGood
#42Chappel CofE Controlled Primary SchoolInadequate
#43Fordham All Saints CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolInadequate

Financials

Spending per pupil: £5,982 (2024-25)

About this spending figure

A higher or lower position here isn't a sign of a better or worse school - schools have different needs and circumstances - but it can help reassure you that a school has sufficient funding behind your child's education.

45th of 53 primary schools in Colchester for spending per pupil

#43Old Heath Community Primary School£6,019
#44Layer-de-la-Haye Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School£5,986
#45Highwoods Community Primary School£5,982
#46Brinkley Grove Primary School£5,960
#47Stanway Primary School£5,934

Click to see the full ranking

Spending Per Pupil ranking

Based on official DfE financial return data (Consistent Financial Reporting / Academies Accounts Return) - not a ranking of school quality.

Rank School Score

#1St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester£10,863
#2Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School£8,583
#3St Michael's Primary School and Nursery, Colchester£8,572
#4Baynards Primary School£8,464
#5Messing Primary School£8,193
#6Myland Community Primary School£8,133
#7Fingringhoe Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School£7,988
#8Lexden Primary School with Unit for Hearing Impaired Pupils£7,743
#9Chappel CofE Controlled Primary School£7,697
#10Willow Brook Primary School and Nursery£7,584
#11Boxted St Peter's Church of England School£7,388
#12Cherry Tree Academy£7,375
#13Holy Trinity CofE Primary School, Eight Ash Green and Aldham£7,257
#14St Andrew's Church of England Primary Academy, Marks Tey£7,232
#15Langenhoe Community Primary School£7,124
#16Roach Vale Primary School£6,989
#17Fordham All Saints CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School£6,979
#18St John's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Colchester£6,949
#19Kendall Church of England Primary School£6,939
#20Millfields Primary School£6,761
#21Gosbecks Primary School£6,712
#22Montgomery Primary School, Colchester£6,598
#23Unity Primary Academy£6,573
#24Stanway Fiveways Primary School£6,568
#25Queen Boudica Primary School£6,536
#26Parsons Heath Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School£6,470
#27Mersea Island School£6,411
#28St Lawrence Church of England Primary School, Rowhedge£6,397
#29Copford Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School£6,385
#30St Teresa's Catholic Primary School, Colchester£6,376
#31Birch Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School£6,353
#32Friars Grove Primary School£6,326
#33Dedham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School£6,288
#34The Bishop William Ward Church of England Primary School£6,277
#35Braiswick Primary School£6,262
#36North Primary School and Nursery£6,208
#37St. George's School£6,175
#38St John's Green Primary School£6,166
#39St James the Great Church of England Primary School£6,071
#40St Luke's Church of England Controlled Primary School£6,057
#41Hamilton Primary School£6,040
#42Milldene Primary School£6,026
#43Old Heath Community Primary School£6,019
#44Layer-de-la-Haye Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School£5,986
#45Highwoods Community Primary School£5,982
#46Brinkley Grove Primary School£5,960
#47Stanway Primary School£5,934
#48Heathlands Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, West Bergholt£5,770
#49Home Farm Primary School£5,550
#50Lakelands Primary School£5,520
#51Camulos Academy£5,395
#52Tiptree Heath Primary School£5,380
#53Langham Primary Academy£2,810

View on the Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool (GOV.UK)

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