Classpot

Plume School

Maldon, CM9 6ABSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Nov 2023
Progress 8
-0.37
Below average
−20+2
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
283 1st-choice / 304 places
Ranking
#2,385
of 3,141 nationally

About Plume School

Plume School sits within Essex local authority, a large county with 86 secondary schools where it ranks 53rd overall by Progress 8. In its immediate Maldon area, it is one of only two secondaries and comes out top, though the local landscape is dominated by selective and high-performing schools further afield. The top three peers in the county — King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford, Colchester Royal Grammar School, and Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School — all post Progress 8 scores above +1.0, a level Plume does not reach. Still, the school is a genuine comprehensive, taking pupils from 11 to 18 with no religious character and no academic selection. It is significantly oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, 576 families applied for 304 places, and 283 of those were first-preference offers. That level of demand suggests strong local confidence, even if the school’s raw academic metrics sit below the Essex average.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressFambridge Road, Maldon, Maldon, CM9 6AB
HeadteacherTom Baster
Local AuthorityEssex
Number of Pupils1,786
Free School Meals (FSM)24.9%
School Capacity1,786 / 1,841 (97% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

28 Nov 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 22 Jan 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

12
Swimming PoolLibraryICT SuiteAstro TurfSports HallScience LabsArt StudiosPlaying FieldsTheatreDining HallTennis CourtsSixth Form Centre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

15

Sports

RoundersNetballTennisBasketballRugbyCricketSwimming

Clubs & Activities

Book ClubScience ClubYoung EnterpriseGardeningArt ClubCodingDuke of EdinburghModel United Nations

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultySevere LearningMulti-SensoryOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Plume School

Plume School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.