Paxman Academy

About Paxman Academy

Paxman Academy is a free school in Colchester, Essex, England, for pupils aged 11–16. It has 886 pupils on roll. It is part of THE SIGMA TRUST. Its most recent Ofsted inspection (6 February 2024) rated it Good. At GCSE, pupils achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 42.4 (2025/26). 33.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 14.4% have English as an additional language.

School Information

Local Authority

Essex →

School Type

Free schools

Phase

Secondary

Age Range

Ages 11–16

Gender

Mixed

Pupils / Capacity

886 / 900 (98%)

Sixth Form

Does not have a sixth form

Nursery

No Nursery Classes

Religious Character

None

Admissions Policy

Non-selective

Last Ofsted Inspection

6 February 2024

Who attends this school — useful context if you’re considering teaching here.

Source: DfE School Census, 2025/26, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Official Department for Education results, pupil destinations and attendance.

Progress 8 isn’t published for this year group: their Key Stage 2 baseline (2021 SATs) was cancelled during the pandemic, so a progress measure can’t be calculated. GCSE figures are provisional and may be revised.

Source: Department for Education performance tables, 2025/26, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Some independent schools’ qualifications (e.g. IGCSEs) are not all reflected in these figures.

Staffing at this school, with the trend over recent years — useful if you’re considering working here.

Data for the 2024/25 academic year (trend lines show 3 years). Source: DfE School Workforce Census, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. State-funded schools only.

How this school is funded and where the money goes — per pupil.

Source: DfE school finance returns (CFR for council-maintained schools, AAR for academies), 2024-25, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Per-pupil figures are calculated from total income/expenditure.

Contact Details

Address

Paxman Avenue, Colchester, Essex, CO2 9DB

Phone

01206413813

Head Teacher

Debbie Kershaw

Website

www.paxmanacademy.school

Academy Trust

Frequently asked questions

What type of school is Paxman Academy?

Paxman Academy is a free school in Colchester, Essex, England, for pupils aged 11–16.

How many pupils does Paxman Academy have?

Paxman Academy has 886 pupils on roll, according to Department for Education data.

What is Paxman Academy's Ofsted rating?

Paxman Academy was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection (6 February 2024).

How does Paxman Academy perform at GCSE?

Pupils at Paxman Academy achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 42.4 in 2025/26.

Is Paxman Academy part of an academy trust?

Yes — Paxman Academy is part of THE SIGMA TRUST.

Where is Paxman Academy?

Paxman Academy is located at Paxman Avenue, Colchester, Essex, CO2 9DB.