Cherry Tree Academy

Cherry Tree Academy has shown considerable improvement since its last inspection, moving from a grade of 'Requires Improvement' to 'Good' across all evaluated areas, including the quality of education and leadership. The school fosters a positive and supportive environment that encourages respectful relationships among pupils and staff, leading to effective learning and behaviour. Staff are committed to helping all pupils, including those with special educational needs, thrive in both their academic and personal development. This inclusive approach, combined with a strong community presence, highlights the school's pivotal role in the local area. Despite notable strengths, the inspection did identify areas needing further development in curriculum consistency across some subjects, particularly for staff training. Ensuring clarity in what knowledge and skills are required for students and enhancing early years curriculum links with key stage 1 also remain key improvement areas. Overall, the school is making strides towards providing a fulfilling education, though focused attention on its curriculum structure and teacher training will further bolster the learning experience for all pupils.

Strengths

• Strong relationships between pupils and staff create a welcoming environment.
• High standards and consistent approach to teaching phonics.
• Effective support for pupils with special educational needs.
• Positive behaviour and attitudes among pupils.
• Engaging and well-planned lessons that captivate student interest.
• Strong community involvement and support from parents.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent curriculum clarity in a few subjects.
• Insufficient teacher training in certain areas of the curriculum.
• Lack of clear links between early years and key stage 1 curriculum.

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 Cherry Tree Academy attended 93.5% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 20.9% 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, 1.2% of pupils at Cherry Tree Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were 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 Cherry Tree Academy had 16.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 8.2% 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, 23.9% of pupils at Cherry Tree Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 6.1% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

The school has resourced provision with 6 pupils.

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 Cherry Tree Academy received £7,576 and spent £7,437 for each of its 176 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £169,000 (£963 per pupil).

Across all 5 schools of Inspires Mat, income was £6,646 and spending £6,280 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

Cherry Tree Academy is part of Inspires Mat, which runs 5 schools. The nearest others:

• Kings Ford Academy Colchester
• Silver End Academy Witham
• Templars Academy Witham
• Witham Oaks Academy Witham

What is Cherry Tree Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Cherry Tree Academy is Good, from an inspection in March 2022.

When was Cherry Tree Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Cherry Tree Academy was last inspected in March 2022.

How many pupils does Cherry Tree Academy have?

Cherry Tree Academy has 180 pupils on roll.

What age range does Cherry Tree Academy cover?

Cherry Tree Academy for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Cherry Tree Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 79% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Cherry Tree Academy?

Cherry Tree Academy is at Holt Drive, Mersea Road, Colchester, Essex, CO2 0BG.