Our Classes Each of our classes is named after a famous person, landmark or historical event linked to Colchester.
EYFS
Chariot Colchester has the only known chariot (track) circus in the North West of Europe. The track encompassed Abbey Fields and the Cavalry Barracks.
Jumbo This class is named after the large water tower that has the nickname Jumbo and dominates the Colchester skyline.
Star This class is named after the nursery rhyme Twinkle twinkle little star written by Jane Taylor from Colchester.
Year 1
Roses North Essex and Colchester were major rose growing areas. This started with the Cant family in 1765.
Circus Colchester has the only known chariot (track) circus in the North West of Europe. The Circus encompassed Abbey Fields and the Cavalry Barracks.
Eagles A common symbol of Roman imperial rule. (Eddie the Eagle is Colchester United’s mascot.)
Year 2
Mercury This class is named after the Mercury Theatre.
Claudius First Roman Emperor of Briton; rode through Colchester (Camolodunum) on an elephant!
Romans Colchester (Camolodunum) was the capital of Romano-Briton, the Romans.
Year3
Iceni Boudicca’s tribe, who attacked the Roman town Camolodunum (Colchester) in c61AD and burnt it to the ground.
Dutch In the 1600’s the population of East Anglia was doubled by Flemish religious refugees. In Colchester they brought their weaving skills with them and settled in the area west of the castle. This area became known as the Dutch Quarter.
Paxman Named after the famous steam and diesel engine makers of Colchester.
Year 4
Castle Named after the castle in Colchester, built by the Normans from the ruins of Claudius’ temple.
Cavalier Named after the Royalists who occupied Colchester in the Civil War.
Garrison Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now simply using as a base. Colchester is known as a Garrison Town because it has a military base.
Year 5
Magnets William Gilberd, from Colchester, was the first person to write a book on magnets, De Magnete. He is credited with coining the word electricity.
Oysters Named after the best oysters in the world from Mersea Island. One of the reasons the Romans came here, apart from the lead and silver. Raedwald Raedwald was king of East Anglia. He reigned from about 599AD until his death around 624AD. Many believe he was the king buried at Sutton Hoo.
Year 6
Trinovantes The wealthy tribe that ruled North Essex before the Roman invasion in 41 AD.
Cymbeline Cymbeline, King of Britain, is a play by William Shakespear set in Ancient Britain (c. AD 10-14) and based on the early King Cunobeline of Colchester.
Lathes Founded in 1887 by John Ernest Cohen, The Colchester Lathe Company swiftly rose to prominence as a manufacturer of exceptional lathes.