Academy converter · Essex

Plume School

11–18Ages
1,789Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
137790URN

Fambridge Road, Maldon, CM9 6AB · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Nov 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.0per place

0.9 below Essex median (2.8)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in EssexSelective

562 applications for 288 places · 56th of 78 in Essex

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

42.2of 90

Essex 45.6 England 46.0

55th of 79 in Essex

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 28 November 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Sixth form provision		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

2.0applications per place, Year 7

0.9 below Essex median (2.8) 0.3 below England median (2.2)

562 applications · 288 places offered · 274 named it first

2026 2.0; Essex median median 2.8
2025 1.9; Essex median median 2.7
2024 2.0; Essex median median 2.8
2023 2.1; Essex median median 2.7
2022 2.0; Essex median median 2.7
2021 2.1; Essex median median 2.6
2020 1.6; Essex median median 2.8
2019 1.5; Essex median median 2.7
2018 1.6; Essex median median 2.6
2017 1.6; Essex median median 2.7
2016 1.7; Essex median median 2.6
2015 1.8; Essex median median 2.5
2014 1.9; Essex median median 2.6

More applications per place than the Essex median in 0 of 13 years.

This school
Essex median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	288	562	2.0	274	0.95
Sep 2025	304	576	1.9	283	0.93
Sep 2024	305	596	2.0	313	1.03
Sep 2023	291	607	2.1	317	1.09
Sep 2022	289	578	2.0	290	1.00
Sep 2021	287	587	2.1	310	1.08
Sep 2020	307	476	1.6	258	0.84
Sep 2019	290	439	1.5	256	0.88
Sep 2018	285	461	1.6	253	0.89
Sep 2017	283	451	1.6	253	0.89
Sep 2016	278	484	1.7	271	0.97
Sep 2015	242	444	1.8	194	0.80
Sep 2014	289	547	1.9	284	0.98

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

292 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)42.255th of 79 in Essex

Essex 45.6 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths38%51st of 79 in Essex

Essex 43% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths63%

Essex 66% England 66%

This school
Essex median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.37

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	292	42.2	38%	63%	–
2024/25	289	42.9	37%	60%	–
2023/24	289	43.6	44%	65%	−0.37
2022/23	287	44.6	43%	62%	−0.54

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Plume SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

2.0applications per place 42.2Attainment 8
Lift Maltings
8.1 km · Essex

2026

1.6applications per place 40.6Attainment 8
William de Ferrers School
10.1 km · Essex

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.9applications per place 43.8Attainment 8
Lift New Rickstones
10.3 km · Essex

Remains Good2023

1.9applications per place 42.5Attainment 8
The Sandon School
11.2 km · Essex

Requires improvement2024

3.3applications per place 45.5Attainment 8
Thurstable School
11.2 km · Essex

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.1applications per place 46.5Attainment 8
The Beaulieu Park School
12.8 km · Essex

Outstanding2023

9.2applications per place 59.3Attainment 8
The Boswells School
13.0 km · Essex

Remains Good2023

3.6applications per place 49.1Attainment 8
Great Baddow High School
13.3 km · Essex

2026

4.6applications per place 48.3Attainment 8

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 137790 · 881/5402
Trust: Plume School
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,841 pupils · 1,789 on roll
Free school meals: 25.8% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 January 2012
Replaced: Plume School (URN 115318)
Address: Fambridge Road, Maldon, CM9 6AB
Local authority: Essex · Maldon

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources