Colchester County High School for Girls Catchment Area
Colchester County High School for Girls is an academy converter secondary school in Colchester, Essex , serving pupils aged 11-18, with 1210 pupils, and a capacity of 1020 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
11-18
Age range
1,210
Pupils
1,020
Capacity
119%
Fill rate
Outstanding
Ofsted 2023
Colchester County High School for Girls Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Colchester County High School for Girls?
The catchment area for Colchester County High School for Girls is the geographic zone Essex uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, though entry first depends on passing the selective admissions test. Essex publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Entry to Colchester County High School for Girls is selective, and applicants must pass the relevant admissions test. Among qualifying applicants, Essex may use distance or catchment area as a tiebreaker when the school is oversubscribed. Check the admissions policy for how the selection and distance criteria interact.
Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →
Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Essex publishes the 2027 Colchester County High School for Girls numbers →
The full admissions policy, including test registration dates, qualifying scores, and any distance criteria, is published by Essex before each admissions cycle. Verify your child's eligibility and your home address directly with the council.
Find Essex catchment area documents →Colchester County High School for Girls: heavily oversubscribed at 119% capacity
Colchester County High School for Girls has a published admission number of 1020 places. 1210 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 119%. At 119% capacity, the school is heavily oversubscribed. Essex allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. Living within the catchment area is a strong but not guaranteed advantage, as the last distance offered shrinks each year as applications rise.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 2.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Colchester.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Essex publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Essex Council school admissions (official) →
Colchester County High School for Girls: School Information
- Full address
- Norman Way, Colchester, CO3 3US
- Local authority
- Essex
- School type
- Academy converter
- Phase of education
- Secondary
- Age range
- 11-18 years
- Gender
- Girls
- Admissions policy
- Selective
- Free school meals
- 2.7% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 137515
Other Secondary Schools in Colchester
If Colchester County High School for Girls is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Colchester are the next closest alternatives.
St Benedict's Catholic College Catchment Area
Voluntary aided school · CO3 3US
Colchester Academy Catchment Area
Academy sponsor led · CO4 3JL
Honywood School Catchment Area
Academy converter · CO6 1PZ
East Bergholt High School Catchment Area
Academy converter · CO7 6RJ
Thurstable School Catchment Area
Academy converter · CO5 0EW
The Gilberd School Catchment Area
Academy converter · CO4 9PU
Nearest secondary schools by distance
These are the secondary schools closest to Colchester County High School for Girls by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.
Need help understanding catchment areas?
Frequently Asked Questions: Colchester County High School for Girls
What is the catchment area for Colchester County High School for Girls? ▾
The catchment area for Colchester County High School for Girls is the geographic zone Essex uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, though entry first depends on passing the selective admissions test. Essex publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Colchester County High School for Girls oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, Colchester County High School for Girls currently has 1210 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 1020 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for Colchester County High School for Girls? ▾
Colchester County High School for Girls is a selective school: admission requires passing the relevant admissions test. Essex publishes the full policy each year, including test dates, qualifying scores, and any distance tiebreaker.
What age range does Colchester County High School for Girls cover? ▾
Colchester County High School for Girls is a secondary school in Colchester, Essex, serving pupils aged 11-18. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Colchester County High School for Girls? ▾
Colchester County High School for Girls was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in 2023. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.