The Essex school was one of the hardest to get into that Dermot O’Leary attended

On By Vaseline

One of Essex’s top schools is renowned for more than 60 years of academic excellence – and for famous students. St Benedict’s Catholic College was revealed as the sixth-hardest secondary school in Essex to get into in recent figures.

Of the 206 candidates who listed St Benedict as their first-place preference as of September 2024, only 141 were offered a place – that’s a 68% pass rate. And the secondary establishment is also where TV presenter, DJ and all-round celebrity Dermot O’Leary spent his formative years.




It is now the only remaining Catholic secondary school in Colchester and one of the best performing non-selective state schools in Colchester. With 878 students between the ages of 11 and 16, there is a lot of focus on academic attention.

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The school explains on its website: “St Benedict’s Catholic College serves Christian families in north-east Essex and strives to promote the values ​​of our Christian faith in our everyday lives. As our mission says, we are proud to be an inclusive community where spiritual, emotional and academic growth are nurtured.”

The school’s first female headteacher, Mrs Jo Santinelli, in her ‘headteacher’s welcome’ says: “We pride ourselves on our caring nature and academic success. We believe that learning should come first. Learning at St. Benedict’s takes place in specialized classrooms equipped with the latest technology.

“The college is located on a pleasant, spacious site including paved play areas, playing fields and tennis courts. We have a well-equipped sports hall and fitness room.