Paxman Academy Catchment Area
Paxman Academy is a free s secondary school in Colchester, Essex , serving pupils aged 11-16, with 886 pupils, and a capacity of 900 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.
11-16
Age range
886
Pupils
900
Capacity
98%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2024
Paxman Academy Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Paxman Academy?
The catchment area for Paxman Academy 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, after looked-after children and siblings. Essex publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Secondary school places at Paxman Academy are allocated by Essex using ranked oversubscription criteria. Catchment area residence is typically among the highest priorities after looked-after children and siblings, and the boundary is reviewed each year.
Get an alert if Paxman Academy goes oversubscribed for 2027 →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Essex before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Essex catchment area documents →Paxman Academy: 900 places, 98% filled: nearing capacity
Paxman Academy has a published admission number of 900 places. 886 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 98%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 900, Essex's admissions team applies distance-based tiebreakers. Families within the school's historical catchment boundary are well placed, but a boundary check with the council is recommended before applying.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 29.7% of pupils at Paxman Academy are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Essex.
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) →
Paxman Academy: School Information
- Full address
- Paxman Avenue, Colchester, CO2 9DB
- Local authority
- Essex
- School type
- Free schools
- Phase of education
- Secondary
- Age range
- 11-16 years
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 29.7% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 147080
Other Secondary Schools in Colchester
If Paxman Academy 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
Colchester County High School for Girls Catchment Area
Academy converter · CO3 3US
Nearest secondary schools by distance
These are the secondary schools closest to Paxman Academy 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Paxman Academy
What is the catchment area for Paxman Academy? ▾
The catchment area for Paxman Academy 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, after looked-after children and siblings. Essex publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Paxman Academy oversubscribed? ▾
Paxman Academy is operating close to its capacity of 900 places (98% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.
What is the admissions policy for Paxman Academy? ▾
Admission to Paxman Academy is managed by Essex. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.
What age range does Paxman Academy cover? ▾
Paxman Academy is a secondary school in Colchester, Essex, serving pupils aged 11-16. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Paxman Academy? ▾
Paxman Academy was rated Good by Ofsted in 2024. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.