Ormiston Rivers Academy
103%
Capacity
1,077
Pupils
1.4x
Demand
About Ormiston Rivers Academy
Ormiston Rivers Academy, a mixed state secondary in Maldon, Essex, was rated Good by Ofsted following its most recent graded inspection in 2013, and an ungraded visit in 2023 confirmed the school remains Good. The single most informative exam metric is its Progress 8 score of -0.7, which is well below the national average and places the school in the bottom 50 nationally. This score means that, on average, pupils achieved nearly three-quarters of a grade less per subject across eight GCSEs than students with similar starting points. The school’s Attainment 8 score sits at 41.8, and just 37.3% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths, compared with 60% achieving a grade 4 or above. Only 5.9% entered the English Baccalaureate, and the EBacc average point score was 3.52. In the local authority of Essex, where the average Progress 8 score is -0.18, Ormiston Rivers ranks 65th out of 86 similar schools.
At A-level, the school’s sixth form, which has 53 students, achieved a value-added score of -0.05, placing it in the average banding nationally. The average points per entry were 31.45, equivalent to a grade C, and the best three A-levels averaged a C+ grade. Around 19.2% of entries were graded AAB or higher. The school’s Progress 8 banding is described as well below average, with particularly weak scores in open subjects (-0.8) and the EBacc bucket (-0.88), though English progress (-0.41) was the strongest of the four pillars. Compared with its previous inspection in 2011, when the school was rated Requires Improvement, the trajectory has been upward, but the current data suggests academic outcomes remain a significant challenge relative to both local and national benchmarks.
The school is oversubscribed for Year 7 entry in 2025/26, receiving 277 applications for 202 places, with 201 first-preference offers made. Facilities are broad and include a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, astro turf, tennis courts, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports on offer include rugby, football, hockey, swimming, tennis, and netball, while clubs range from Debate and Model UN to Coding and Young Enterprise. The school supports a wide range of SEND needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. With 16.3% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. Ormiston Rivers will suit families in the Maldon area who value a broad extracurricular offer and a sixth form with average A-level progress, but who are aware that GCSE outcomes are currently well below the Essex average.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Southminster Road, Burnham-on-Crouch, Maldon, CM0 8QB |
| Headteacher | Dijana Piralic |
| Local Authority | Essex |
| Number of Pupils | 1,077 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 16.3% |
| School Capacity | 1,077 / 1,050 (103% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 Jun 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (8 Jun 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 9 Sept 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.70)
2850th of 3,141
Nationally
321st of 350
In East of England
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly less progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
35.4
'22/23
28.0
'23/24
31.4
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2345%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 197 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)45%
- FE college41%
- Not sustained8%
- Employment4%
- Apprenticeship2%
91% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2347%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 60 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
5%
Russell Group
5%
Top-third HE
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)47%
- Employment28%
- Apprenticeship15%
- Not sustained8%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Sociology19
- Biology17
- Physics17
- Mathematics16
- English Literature12
- History12
- Chemistry11
- Geography10
- Drama and Theatre Studies9
- Mathematics (Further)8
- Art and Design (Fine Art)5
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed202
277
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
201 families put this school as their 1st choice (73% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:50 – 15:20
Source: ormistonriversacademy.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British93.3%
- Mixed4.1%
- White (other)0.8%
- Black0.2%
- Asian0.1%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
3
Total schools
3
Oversubscribed
2
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Was this page helpful?
Frequently Asked Questions About Ormiston Rivers Academy
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Southminster Road, Burnham-on-Crouch
Maldon, CM0 8QB
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Ormiston Rivers Academy!
Write a Review