Camulos Academy

Camulos Academy demonstrates a strong commitment to maintaining the educational standards established during its previous inspection, remaining a welcoming environment for pupils. The school promotes individuality and has high expectations of its students, encouraging them to engage actively in their learning and behavior. The curriculum is broad and engaging, supported by knowledgeable staff, which allows for effective learning; however, there are some concerns regarding the identification of precise learning targets for a few pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Overall, the school's approach to personal development and pupil welfare stands out as a notable strength.

Strengths

• Warm and friendly school environment where individuality is valued.
• High expectations and supportive staff foster confident learners.
• Broad and ambitious curriculum relevant to the local area.
• Consistent and engaging teaching with effective assessment methods.
• Strong support for pupils with SEND, with well-trained staff.
• Prioritization of reading with consistent phonics instruction.
• Effective behavior policy ensuring good relationships and conduct.
• Well-organized personal development program with diverse opportunities.

Areas for Improvement

• Learning targets for some pupils with SEND lack precision, complicating progress tracking.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Camulos Academy attended 96.0% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 6.3% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 1.7% of pupils at Camulos Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). One pupil was permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Camulos Academy had 24.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 11.9% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 14.5% of pupils at Camulos Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.5% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Camulos Academy received £6,080 and spent £5,870 for each of its 413 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £94,000 (£228 per pupil).

Across all 65 schools of Reach2 Academy Trust, income was £7,346 and spending £7,105 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Colchester · Essex local authority: places and applications

Camulos Academy is part of Reach2 Academy Trust, which runs 65 schools. The nearest others:

• Unity Primary Academy Colchester
• Sprites Primary Academy Ipswich
• Sir Martin Frobisher Academy Clacton-On-Sea
• Burrsville Infant Academy Clacton-On-Sea
• Kirby Primary Academy Frinton-On-Sea
• Martlesham Primary Academy Woodbridge
• Newhall Primary Academy Harlow
• Pemberley Academy Harlow
• Water Lane Primary Academy Harlow
• Langtons Junior Academy Hornchurch

What is Camulos Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Camulos Academy is Good, from an inspection in January 2025.

When was Camulos Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Camulos Academy was last inspected in January 2025.

How many pupils does Camulos Academy have?

Camulos Academy has 406 pupils on roll.

What age range does Camulos Academy cover?

Camulos Academy for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Camulos Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 80% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Camulos Academy?

Camulos Academy is at Whitmore Drive, Via Urbis Romanea, Colchester, Essex, CO4 6AL.