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Reviewed

The Sixth Form College, Colchester

State school · Colchester, CO1 1SN
  • Sixth form
  • Co-ed
  • Ages 16-19
  • 3,140 pupils
We've reviewed this school • Unlock to access

An upbeat, hard-working, can-do culture exudes from every nook and cranny of this college. Not for students who expect to breeze through, but a fantastic option for motivated young people. We were left in no doubt about how well they respond to the high expectations of the college, which are well supported by a brilliant tutorial system and plenty of individual guidance and support. A highly recommended bridge between school and university.

Why read our school review?

Unlike other websites, schools can't pay to be included in The Good Schools Guide. This means our review of this school is independent, critical and fair, and written with parents' best interests at heart.

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Overview & data

Pupil numbers
3,140 ·
Local authority
Essex County Council
Area guides

Headteacher

Principal

Jo Cadman

Since September 2024, Jo Cadman.

Entrance

Students wishing to do A levels – who form the majority of the 3,000 students – generally need a minimum of two 6s and three 4-5s, ‘but there’s flexibility when it comes to individual courses,’ says the principal. ‘So you might have three 6s and not

Exit

Over 80 per cent to university (some after a gap year or art foundation course), to a wide range of destinations. Essex, UEA, Leeds, Kent and Nottingham all popular. Three to Oxbridge in 2023.

% students progressing to higher education or training (2021 leavers)

School
73%
LA avg.
61%
Eng. avg.
66%
Data highlight

What is this?

The proportion of 16-18 students that progressed to degrees, higher apprenticeships or other study at level 4 or above for at least 6 consecutive months in the 2 years after taking advanced level qualifications (level 3) at this school or college.

Latest results

In 2020, 21 per cent A*/A at A level (44 per cent A*/B). IB average point score 33. In 2019 (the last year when exams took place), 46 per cent A*-B and 29 per cent A*/A grades at A level. IB average point score 33.

Average points score (2024)

School
32.44
LA avg.
33.44
Eng. avg.
35.69
Data highlight

What is this?

These figures tell you the average grade and average points that pupils achieved in their academic qualifications. A maximum of 60 points are available for a grade A* at A level.

Teaching & learning

Achieves consistently strong academic results, especially given the context that Colchester has two super-selective 11-18 grammar schools that cream off the local top talent (that said, approximately 20 per cent of students from those two schools

Qualifications taken in 2024
  • A level
  • BTEC
  • EPQ
  • VRQ

Learning support & SEN

The learning support centre takes up a whole on-site house, where a team of 17 staff provide support for those with learning difficulties including dyslexia and dyspraxia, as well as physical disabilities or health (including mental health) needs.

Arts & extracurricular

Students are expected to embrace at least a few of the 100 extracurricular opportunities, which range from sign language to Shakespeare club. ‘If you just want to study qualifications, this is not the college for you,’ says the principal, although

Sport

No shortage of sports on offer both on and off the curriculum (with around 200 doing sport and PE at A and AS level), with facilities including an onsite sports hall and all-weather courts, in addition to which the students have access to a range of

Ethos & heritage

Located on a historic town centre site, right on top of Roman ruins – ‘a boon for archaeology students.’ A school occupied the site until 1987, using the original building which dates from 1912 – then the college took over, giving it a significant

Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline

Not all 16-year-olds are self-motivated, natural self-starters – but if your child is, there is no reason they shouldn’t thrive here, even if they have the odd wobble. ‘If you have a problem, your personal tutor is always on hand and they sort things

Pupils & parents

‘There’s a real mix of personalities and backgrounds here,’ say students, and there’s a higher ethnic intake than you might expect from the location, albeit still small – 12 per cent non-white compared to six per cent for the whole area. All come

3,140
Number of pupils

Money matters

Parents are asked for £30 contribution for the two-year stint – towards facilities and insurance for school trips. A £20 refundable deposit also required for text books.

The last word

An upbeat, hard-working, can-do culture exudes from every nook and cranny of this college. Not for students who expect to breeze through, but a fantastic option for motivated young people. We were left in no doubt about how well they respond to the

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Contact the school

Address

North Hill
Colchester
Essex
CO1 1SN
Get directions

Telephone: 01206 500700

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.colchsfc.ac.uk/

Local authority: Essex County Council

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School data & information The Sixth Form College, Colchester North Hill, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1SN
3,140 Pupil numbers
Our review contains additional results data reported to us by The Sixth Form College, Colchester and is updated annually. See the review

% of pupils achieving AAB or higher, including at least 2 facilitating subjects (2024)

School
9%
LA avg.
15%
Eng. avg.
20%

What is this?

Facilitating A levels are ones that are commonly needed for entry to leading universities. They are: biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, further mathematics, geography, history, English literature and classical or modern languages. The % of pupils achieving AAB or higher may therefore decrease if many pupils have opted not to take two or more of the facilitating subjects mentioned.

Average points score (2024)

School
32.44
LA avg.
33.44
Eng. avg.
35.69

What is this?

These figures tell you the average grade and average points that pupils achieved in their academic qualifications. A maximum of 60 points are available for a grade A* at A level.

Subjects entered at 16 to 18 (2024)

Pupils attending this school entered exams in these subjects. The list only includes qualifications approved for inclusion in the performance measures. The subjects and qualifications on offer at this school may change year on year. For a full list of subjects and qualifications on offer at this school, visit the school or college website or contact the school directly. Find out more

Subject Qualification Entries Avg. grade
Spanish GCE A level 29 A
Sociology GCE A level 224 B
Religious Studies GCE A level 26 C
Psychology GCE A level 372 B
Physics GCE A level 78 C
Physical Education / Sports Studies GCE A level 57 B
Music Technology GCE A level 27 C
Music GCE A level 17 C
Media/Film/Tv Studies GCE A level 99 B
Mathematics (Statistics) GCE A level 52 C
Mathematics (Further) GCE A level 33 A
Mathematics GCE A level 259 B
Logic / Philosophy GCE A level 68 B
Law GCE A level 96 B
Italian GCE A level 6 A*
History GCE A level 188 B
Government and Politics GCE A level 69 B
German GCE A level 16 B
Geology GCE A level 42 B
Geography GCE A level 143 B
French GCE A level 28 B
Film Studies GCE A level 51 B
Environmental Science GCE A level 68 B
English Literature GCE A level 123 B
English Language and Literature GCE A level 127 B
English Language GCE A level 100 C
Electronics GCE A level 25 B
Economics GCE A level 113 B
Drama and Theatre Studies GCE A level 32 B
Design and Technology (Product Design) GCE A level 39 B
Dance GCE A level 7 B
Computer Studies / Computing GCE A level 149 B
Classical Civilisation GCE A level 57 A
Chemistry GCE A level 135 B
Business Studies:Single GCE A level 213 B
Biology GCE A level 228 B
Art and Design (Textiles) GCE A level 41 B
Art and Design (Photography) GCE A level 63 B
Art and Design (Graphics) GCE A level 81 B
Art and Design (Fine Art) GCE A level 98 B
Art and Design (Critical Studies) GCE A level 21 B
Art and Design (3d Studies) GCE A level 9 B
Ancient History GCE A level 27 B
Accounting / Finance GCE A level 59 B
Mathematics (Further) GCE AS level 53 A

Entry and exit data

Here we report figures on pupils moving between schools at the usual entry and exit points, as well as student destinations into higher education. We publish publically available data for state schools. For independent schools, The Good Schools Guide collects data from its prep schools as to where their pupils go on to. Find out more

Our review contains additional entry and exit data reported to us and is updated annually. See the review

Year 13 exit

SEN overview

The Sixth Form College, Colchester is a mainstream school. The school may provide support for students with special educational needs as detailed below. If you require more information on conditions the school can support, we encourage you to contact the school directly.

SEN statement

Provided by the school and not part of our review

The Sixth Form College, Colchester is committed to offering an inclusive curriculum to ensure the best possible progress and outcomes for all of our learners whatever their learning needs or disability. As a college serving learners aged between 16 and 19 years, we feel it is particularly important that: The views, wishes and feelings of the learner are listened to and respected. The learner’s parents'/carers' views, wishes and feelings are taken into consideration, where appropriate. We provide support for the learner in order for them to achieve the best possible education and other outcomes.

The Learning Support team will provide support by seeking to ensure that appropriate provision is made. This includes a range of support mechanisms, some of which are outlined below: Academic access workshops - designed to develop study skills. The groups are very small, entirely learner-centred and led by a learning support tutor. Academic access - one-to-one workshop. Bookable sessions where learners can work individually with a learning support tutor. Mentoring - one-to-one sessions particularly useful for students with Aspergers or visually impaired learners. The sessions focus on study skills and social skills. Coaching - one-to-one sessions focusing purely on study skills and target setting. College counselling service - we have a number of trained counsellors at the College, which are bookable via senior tutors. Exam access arrangements - we have specialist teachers and trained scribes, readers and transcribes. We can also assess learners for exam access arrangements and dyslexia. Services of a teacher of the deaf, BSL communicator and note-taker - brought in as needed. Providing specialist software/ resources - we can provide some specialist software and can bid for additional funding for software and resources should a learner require something specific. Please get in touch with us in the Learning Support department for further information.

Updated Mar 2017

SEN conditons supported

Schools report the conditions they might be able to support. Please note, this may not be a complete list. Find out more.

Conditions (Might cover/be referred to as) Provision
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder Aspergers, Autism, High functioning autism, Neurodivergent, Neurodiversity, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), Social skills Yes
HI - Hearing Impairment Yes
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty Learning needs Yes
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment Sensory processing Yes
OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability Downs Syndrome, Epilepsy, Genetic, Tics, Tourettes Yes
PD - Physical Disability Yes
PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty Complex needs, Global delay, Global developmental delay
SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health Anxiety, Complex needs, Emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), Mental Health Yes
SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication Selective mutism Yes
SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty Complex needs
SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Auditory processing, Developmental Co-ordination Difficulties (DCD), Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Handwriting Yes
VI - Visual Impairment Special facilities for Visually Impaired Yes
Our data explained
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