St Cedd's Church of England Primary School

About St Cedd's Church of England Primary School

St Cedd's Church of England Primary School in Maldon is a small state primary that clearly appeals to local families. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 28 applications for 23 places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 1.22 applicants per place. Of those 28 applications, 22 were first-preference choices, and all 22 first-preference families received an offer. This suggests the school is a popular first choice among parents in the area, even though it isn't the highest-ranked primary in Essex. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in March 2023, confirmed it remains Good, a notable improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2017 when it was rated Good overall, and a significant step up from its 2013 inspection where it was judged to Require Improvement. Headteacher Ruth Wright leads a school of 118 pupils, well below its capacity of 175.

Academically, St Cedd's results present a mixed picture. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, just 33% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, well below the Essex local authority average of 62%. The school ranks 14th out of 17 primaries in the Maldon local authority area on this measure, placing it in the bottom 50% nationally. Looking at individual subjects, reading was the strongest area, with 67% reaching the expected standard and 17% achieving a higher score. Maths saw 33% at expected and 8% at a higher level, while writing had 58% at expected but no pupils reaching the higher standard. Average scaled scores were 104 in reading and 101 in maths. The school's Ofsted breakdown from its 2017 graded inspection rated leadership and management, early years provision, and overall effectiveness all as Good, though no specific data is available for behaviour or personal development.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a gymnasium, sports hall, playing fields, music rooms, an ICT suite, art studios and a chapel. Sports provision covers cricket, swimming, dance, netball, football, rounders and cross country, while clubs include film, chess, coding and gardening. St Cedd's has identified SEND provisions for pupils with moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. As a Church of England school, it has a religious character but is open to all. Given its small size, strong local demand and below-average KS2 results, this school is likely to suit families who prioritise a close-knit, community-focused setting over headline academic scores, and who are comfortable with the school's current performance trajectory.

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