Schools by area › Essex › Plume School
Plume School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy
Fambridge Road, Maldon CM9 6AB · plume.essex.sch.uk · 01621 854681
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Nov 2023
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 42.9
- average Attainment 8 score. Essex 45.1, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,789
- 97% of 1,841 places
- Local authority
- Essex
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 25.8%
- First language not English
- 3.6%
- School census 2025/26
- Trust
- Plume School
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 274 families put the school first and 288 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 288 | 274 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 304 | 283 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 305 | 313 | 1▲ | 93% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 291 | 317 | 1.1▲ | 89% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 289 | 290 | 1▲ | 95% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 42.9, and 37% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Essex it was 45.1, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C+ (32.2 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼42.9 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼37.0% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼59.9% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼17.3% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.57 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 38.8 | +5.7 |
| Sixth form college | 5.9 | −10.8 |
| Further education | 37.4 | +10.6 |
| Other education | 0.3 | −1.4 |
| Apprenticeship | 4.8 | −0.1 |
| Employment | 4.2 | −3.1 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 5.5 | −0.4 |
| Activity not captured | 3.1 | −0.4 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 140 students | C+ (32.2) | Above average +0.22 | |
| 140 students | C+ (32.3) | Above average +0.22 | |
| 66 students | Dist- (31.3) | Above average +0.47 | |
| 6 students | Dist (34.2) | Average +0.38 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 94 | C+ (34.2) | +0.59 |
| 2022/23 | 102 | C+ (34.6) | — |
| 2021/22 | 99 | B- (36.4) | — |
| 2018/19 | 95 | C (29.8) | -0.05 |
| 2017/18 | 113 | C (31.2) | -0.01 |
| 2016/17 | 134 | C (29.8) | -0.10 |
| 2015/16 | 156 | C- (27.6) | -0.21 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 34.5 | −1.5 |
| Apprenticeship | 12.4 | −2.5 |
| Employment | 40.7 | +4.7 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 10.6 | +3.6 |
| Activity not captured | 1.8 | −0.8 |
Ofsted
Plume School was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 28 November 2023, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 28 Nov 2023
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth form | Good |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Jan 2018
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Jan 2018Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good Safeguarding Effective Jan 2014Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good
What parents said
79% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (261 replies, to 2 September 2024).
- Recommend
- 79%
- Replies
- 261
- 2 Sept 2024
based on the 80% who raised concerns
based on the 38% who had a child bullied
based on 73 parents (28%) with SEND