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The Thomas Lord Audley School
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Secondary

The Thomas Lord Audley School

Colchester, United Kingdom
12 Reviews
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Verified Parents
3.1 /5

12 reviews

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About The Thomas Lord Audley School

The Thomas Lord Audley School is a high performing, over-subscribed 11-16 comprehensive school, situated to the south of Colchester. Our agreed values of ‘Ready, Respectful and Responsible’ underpin everything we do. Our vision is to empower our young people to be the best that they can be.

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Key Facts

Head/Principal Simon Essex

Rating Breakdown

Based on published reviews
Safety & Security 3.1
Teaching Quality 3.3
Communication 3.2
Student Wellbeing 3.4
Facilities 3.2

Parent Survey

Official Ofsted Parent View data • 146 responses • 15.9% response rate

View on Ofsted

My child is happy at this school

89.7% positive 10.2% negative

My child feels safe at this school

88.3% positive 10.3% negative

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved

87.6% positive 10.3% negative

The school has high expectations for my child

91.1% positive 5.5% negative

My child does well at this school

91.1% positive 7.6% negative

I would recommend this school to another parent

Data from Ofsted Parent View as of September 2025. Based on 146 parent responses to the official Ofsted survey.

School Workforce

Teacher and staff information • 2024-2025

Note: These figures are estimated based on national averages. Actual school-level data not yet available.
17.0:1
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Excellent
54.2
Teachers (FTE)

Estimated workforce data based on GIAS enrollment and national average ratios. Academic year 2024-2025.

Secondary School Results (Key Stage 4)

Exam performance data • 2023-2024

40.5
Attainment 8
Average grade across 8 subjects
-0.13
Progress 8
Below average
37.6%
English & Maths 9-5
Strong pass in both
57.0%
English & Maths 9-4
Standard pass in both

Additional Information

24.2% entered EBacc
16.4% achieved EBacc
165 pupils in cohort

Data from DfE Performance Tables for academic year 2023-2024. Published January 2024. View full performance tables

Reviews 12

P
Parent
Parent Mar 5, 2025
2.0

"Eh not good rlly"

Bro the teachers smh I hate the toilets no way to smoke or nthn it’s open hate it but clubs and shit good ig
Safety & Wellbeing 1/5
Teaching & Learning 3/5
Communication 2/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 3/5
Facilities 2/5
P
Parent
Parent Feb 3, 2025
2.0

"Terrible"

,Try to avoid the school.
Safety & Wellbeing 1/5
Teaching & Learning 2/5
Communication 2/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 2/5
Facilities 1/5
P
Parent
Parent Jun 20, 2023
4.0

"My experience "

Amazing school with excellent supportive teachers.but could use some work in areas.rewarding students for good behaviour and just going to lessons.
Safety & Wellbeing 4/5
Teaching & Learning 3/5
Communication 4/5
Facilities 3/5
P
Parent
Parent Jan 15, 2023
5.0

"Slay the school away"

Such a slay school honestly😍 I feel it should be narrowed down to only 1 day a week tho🤔 I think you should take that into consideration perhaps. Love the toilets😏 such a slay place to be tbf😩
P
Parent
Parent Nov 7, 2022
3.0

"average"

weirdest three years of my life smh
personally wouldn't recommend but if you're forced to go there then.... well. keep your head down and follow the crowd bestie
also, if you're bullied - nothing is done. it's better to handle it yourself rather than bother reporting it. got told by x they're gonna bash my head against the fence and nobody really got concerned.
Safety & Wellbeing 3/5
Teaching & Learning 3/5
Communication 3/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 4/5
Facilities 2/5
E
Emily W
Parent Jun 15, 2022
5.0

"Excellent School with Friendly Staff"

My daughter has been at Thomas Lord Audley School for 3 years now and it's been an amazing experience. The school's values of 'Ready, Respectful and Responsible' really shine through in the way the teachers support the children. I've been impressed with the facilities, especially the sports hall and the school garden.
Safety & Wellbeing 5/5
Teaching & Learning 4/5
Communication 5/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 4/5
Facilities 5/5
H
Helen G
Parent Mar 20, 2022
4.0

"Mixed Experience"

I've had a bit of a mixed experience with Thomas Lord Audley School. My daughter has had some great teachers and has enjoyed certain subjects, but she's also had some difficulties with the workload and the behavior of some of her peers. I think the school could do more to support students in these areas.
Safety & Wellbeing 4/5
Teaching & Learning 4/5
Communication 3/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 3/5
Facilities 4/5
P
Parent
Parent Oct 8, 2021
2.0

"Sending your child here? Prepare for the worst"

Unfortunately having a school in the centre of Monkwick isn’t going to end well. Crass and loutish behaviour in every year, rough and violent environment for students. Sending your children here is signing them up to crime and gangs.

As for the education itself, it’s average. Some teachers are good and helpful, others aren’t. From what I’ve seen the student is always powerless against the teachers and staff regardless of who’s in the right. Some very good school trips but most are massively overpriced. I would not recommend this school and it needs serious improvement, but I’m not sure if that will happen due to the location.
Safety & Wellbeing 2/5
Teaching & Learning 2/5
Communication 2/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 3/5
Facilities 3/5
J
James T
Parent Sep 1, 2021
5.0

"Great School, Would Recommend"

My son attended Thomas Lord Audley School for 5 years and I was really pleased with the education and care he received. The school's emphasis on the arts and music was particularly wonderful, and my son made some lifelong friends there. I would highly recommend the school to any parent.
Safety & Wellbeing 5/5
Teaching & Learning 5/5
Communication 4/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 5/5
Facilities 5/5
P
Parent
Parent May 2, 2021
4.0

"My review :)"

So far my experience has been good, I haven’t sadly had the full experience due to covid, but from everything I have experienced so far it’s amazing :)
Safety & Wellbeing 3/5
Teaching & Learning 4/5
Communication 4/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 3/5
Facilities 4/5
P
Parent
Parent Oct 24, 2020
3.0

"Teachers need consequences"

Good education but consequences for teachers need to be bigger, a certain teacher had multiple warnings from experiences of belittling children and talking with them about things that aren’t appropriate for a teacher to be discussing with students. This same teacher also did a students coursework for them while the students did each others hair
Safety & Wellbeing 3/5
Teaching & Learning 3/5
Communication 3/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 4/5
Facilities 3/5
P
Parent
Parent Aug 27, 2020
1.0

"Terrible"

Terrible staff, never helped me with homework or work inside of school, the disciplinary action doesn’t work and the school never helped me be comfortable in my own skin. The process for helping Transgender and Non-Binary students takes up to 6 months for a name change on the system and there is no consequences for racist, homophobic, xenophobic, sexist students.
Safety & Wellbeing 3/5
Teaching & Learning 1/5
Communication 4/5
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing 2/5
Facilities 4/5

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