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The Stanway School Catchment Area

Reviewed by the catchment.school editorial team · Last updated 15 March 2026

The Stanway School is an academy converter secondary school in Colchester, Essex , serving pupils aged 11-16, with 1383 pupils, and a capacity of 1400 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.

11-16

Age range

1,383

Pupils

1,400

Capacity

99%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2013

The Stanway School Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for The Stanway School?

The catchment area for The Stanway School 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.

As an academy, The Stanway School sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Essex. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.

Operating near capacity: 99% of places are currently filled. Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

Get an alert if The Stanway School 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 →

The Stanway School: 1400 places, 99% filled: nearing capacity

The Stanway School has a published admission number of 1400 places. 1383 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 99%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 1400, 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. 13.5% 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) →

The Stanway School: School Information

Full address
Winstree Road, Stanway, Colchester, CO3 0QA
Local authority
Essex
School type
Academy converter
Phase of education
Secondary
Age range
11-16 years
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Free school meals
13.5% of pupils
DfE URN
137927

Other Secondary Schools in Colchester

If The Stanway School is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Colchester are the next closest alternatives.

Nearest secondary schools by distance

These are the secondary schools closest to The Stanway School 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.

Frequently Asked Questions: The Stanway School

What is the catchment area for The Stanway School?

The catchment area for The Stanway School 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 The Stanway School oversubscribed?

The Stanway School is operating close to its capacity of 1400 places (99% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

What is the admissions policy for The Stanway School?

Admission to The Stanway School 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 The Stanway School cover?

The Stanway School 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 The Stanway School?

The Stanway School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2013. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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