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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

Advice secondary schools in Maldon, Essex

21 replies

Sunnyluz · 05/02/2015 14:18

Hi all,
I am looking to re-locate to Maldon and would appreciate any advise with secondary schools in area.. I have two boys aged 5 & 8, at the moment Im not too worried about primay schools so much as secondary schools. We have just moved back from living abroad and are in London at the moment, but only as stopping point while we decide what area to move to...we hope to move and be settled by the summer so boys can start school in sept.
just like some advice in order to help me make my decision wether or not Maldon would be the right area to settle.

second choice is Suffolk no other areas in Essex, as we plan to start up a business in Maldon.
appreciate any feedback, thank you. Lx

OP posts:

Essexmum69 · 05/02/2015 19:01

As far as I am aware there is only one secondary school in Maldon - Plume school. I dont have any experience of it so unable to comment.
If you are looking for a good secondary school in Suffolk then I would recommend Farlingaye High school in Woodbridge.

DoctorDonnaNoble · 05/02/2015 19:04

There's also the grammar school option if you're in Essex and wanted to try. Plume is the school in Maldon, don't know much about it post 97 when some of my mates went there rather than the school in Tiptree, Thurstable.

Original poster

Sunnyluz · 06/02/2015 09:59

Thank you all for replying..... I will read up about Plume and the grammar school. im so out of touch with Uk education!!! only been back to uk for a month.
I love woddbridge but think its too small.. we are goin to visit Bury StEdmunds., as think its bigger.
Ive been living in a small village in Portugal for the last 12years so would like more of a town.
We hope to set up our own restaurant/cafe again so need to be somewhere where there will be enough day time customers.
Went to Maldon for the day and really liked the feel of the place.
Crashing at mother in laws at the moment in north London.!!!!!

OP posts:

Essexmum69 · 06/02/2015 18:51

Ok. The thing to watch with Bury st Edmunds is that they are in the process of moving from a three tier school system to a two tier for most but not all of the schools! If your eldest is due to be in year 5 in September then there is going to be alot of change in the schools there.
www.suffolk.gov.uk/education-and-careers/schools-and-support-in-education/school-organisation-review/bury-st-edmunds-reorganisation/

Original poster

Sunnyluz · 06/02/2015 21:35

Thanks essexmum for this is very helpful,
I'll have a read. Just out of interest any
Particular areas u recommend that may be
Nice to move too?

OP posts:

Essexmum69 · 06/02/2015 22:29

I dont know much about west suffolk really. If I were to move back over the suffolk border I would head for Woodbridge. Sudbury is also nice as a small town but I have no experience of their schools either I'm afraid.
Debenham high school is well respected but very rural, however Stowmarket or the tourist area of Framlingham are close for business options.

sosix · 06/02/2015 22:33

Your in catchment for kegs grammar

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 06/02/2015 22:40

I grew up in Maldon. It seems hideously overcrowded now but if you want to run a restaurant that's all to the good! Plume is a good school AFAIK but enormous. I went to the girls' grammar in Chelmsford; KEGS is meant to be good too.

DoctorDonnaNoble · 07/02/2015 05:12

The entrance exam for CRGS and KEGS is the same. So you can sit it, wait for your score, look round the schools and then decide.
Both now take (from September 2015) 4 form entry I believe so there are more places available now.

Essexmum69 · 07/02/2015 08:25

I would not advise Colchester. Traffic dreadful and getting worse. Mass house building without improvements to infrastructure. Limited choice of good comprehensives. We are trying to move out!

Original poster

Sunnyluz · 07/02/2015 08:37

really usefull info guys, fanx again. glad I posted on here.
Im off to visit Bury next week and ill check out Sudbury, have family near by in Long Melford so I sort of know the area.
I think Maldon is very tempting as I love the fact that we are near the water and reminds me of our last home by the sea in Portugal...just wish I had brought the weather with me.

OP posts:

DoctorDonnaNoble · 07/02/2015 08:40

Just a point that if you went to Maldon there would be school transport (to pay for) to both KEGS and CRGS.
Colchester is dreadful for traffic but I love it! Moved back after my first job post university.

Original poster

Sunnyluz · 07/02/2015 14:06

we also had Colchester on our list to check out... is it true what they say about it being a bit rough in evenings/night?? is it bad traffic in town or commuter traffic? im sure its still much more pleasant than where I am living now.

OP posts:

DoctorDonnaNoble · 07/02/2015 16:22

Depends where you go in the evening. No problems where I go! Centre of town grinds to a halt at the moment - mainly because the county council arranged for loads of roadworks!

Original poster

Sunnyluz · 07/02/2015 18:54

Im sure its not as bad as were we are in London. Goin to view a business in Colchester next week so Ill check it out.

OP posts:

Essexmum69 · 07/02/2015 19:33

A big problem in Colchester is crossing the railway line, so if you live south of north station and have jobs/school north of it or vise versa then you will regularly be stuck in traffic. DD leaves school at 3.35 and never gets home before 4.45 (school service bus)- distance 2 1/2 miles!
If the terrain was flatter and the roads safer she would walk or cycle as it would be quicker!

Original poster

Sunnyluz · 04/03/2015 17:45

Just a quick up date, after lots of investigation we have decided that we will not move to Essex after all , but Surrey. You don't get as much for your money as you do in Essex but my sisters will b close to me. I though I want a big house in country but I'm happy with small house close to family.
Thank you all for posting on here. Hope u all have your costumes ready for tomorow. Xxx

OP posts:

Original poster

Sunnyluz · 04/03/2015 17:47

Excuse my bad spelling....

OP posts:

Tommyno1 · 31/08/2017 15:04

Hi there need some advice please. We currently live in Hornchurch and would like to move to maldon when my daughter starts secondary school. She's currently going into year 5. How soon do I need to apply for a school place? What happens if I don't have an address in maldon when i apply for a school place. What secondary schools serve maldon? Many thanks in advance xx

Muna20 · 21/12/2019 00:58

Hi
I am looking to move to Maldon Essex and need an advice on outstanding secondary schools within the catchment area. Please help.
Thanks

MarchingFrogs · 21/12/2019 01:28

www.essex.gov.uk/topic/admissions
This gives you the facility to put in an address and find out which school's priority admissions area it is in. For most if not all addresses in Maldon, that would be the Plume School, although you are of course at liberty to express a higher preference for any other school you like and your chance of a place being offered (at any school you apply for, including the priority area school) depends on how your DC is ranked by the school according to its published admissions criteria.

As has previously been mentioned, there are also grammar schools in Chelmsford and Colchester (also in Westcliff / Southend, but seriously, if you prefer the look of those, move to somewhere convenient for them, not to Maldon).

The secondary schools admissions booklet is here
assets.ctfassets.net/knkzaf64jx5x/CEzlE4SyHkIafZbQko7Q5/8e4ac5db3706399733c70ce9d8aedec9/Secondary_admissions_brochure.pdf

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