Wentworth Primary School, Maldon Review 2026: High-performing community primary with strong KS2 outcomes

At drop-off and pick-up, routines matter here, and pupils know exactly what is expected. That sense of clarity shows up in outcomes too. In 2024, 80.33% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, comfortably above the England average of 62%.

This is a state, mainstream primary for ages 4 to 11, with around 440 pupils on roll and a published admission number of 60 for Reception. Headteacher Mrs Dawn Dack leads the school and was appointed in 2016.

The tone is purposeful, with a strong emphasis on responsibility and respectful behaviour. Expectations are framed in simple, repeatable language, and pupils are given structured ways to contribute, whether that is through peer roles or pupil voice groups. The school positions this as a “rules first, kindness always” approach, and it reads as consistent rather than rigid.

There is also a clear enrichment identity that runs alongside the day-to-day basics. The calendar of themed activity includes “Viking Days”, and pupils are encouraged to take part in trips, visitors and events that extend classroom learning. That matters because it is one of the easiest ways a two-form entry primary can keep curiosity alive across the week, not just during special weeks.

Pastoral culture is built around relationships between year groups. Older pupils are given defined responsibilities as buddies for younger children, and there is a visible effort to make playground life inclusive rather than cliquey. Behaviour and safety messages are woven into everyday practice, including online safety, and safeguarding practice is described as effective.

The headline for parents is straightforward. Outcomes place Wentworth among the stronger primary schools in England on published measures, and locally it sits near the top of the Maldon area in the FindMySchool ranking. Ranked 2nd in Maldon and 2,907th in England for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking, based on official data), performance sits above the England average, placing it comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England.

At Key Stage 2 in 2024:

• 80.33% met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, versus an England average of 62%.

• 27.67% achieved the higher standard in reading, writing and mathematics, versus an England average of 8%.

• Average scaled scores were 106 in reading, 107 in mathematics, and 109 in grammar, punctuation and spelling.

Those scaled scores matter because they suggest strength across the core domains rather than a single spike in one area. For a child who learns steadily across subjects, the offer is reassuring. For a child who needs more confidence in reading, the school’s focus on early reading and targeted catch-up becomes particularly relevant to day-to-day experience.

Curriculum planning is structured from Reception through Year 6, with key knowledge sequenced so that later learning builds logically on earlier content. Lessons are broken into smaller steps, and teachers use that structure to help pupils secure the foundations before moving on.

Reading is treated as a priority from the start. Phonics begins in Reception, and staff are expected to identify quickly which pupils are finding reading hard so that support can be put in place before gaps widen. The practical implication for parents is that early concerns about decoding or fluency should be picked up promptly, and intervention is intended to be routine rather than exceptional.

One development point is worth understanding because it is specific and actionable. The latest Ofsted report noted that assessment is not always consistent in spotting misconceptions, which can mean some pupils begin new learning without as deep an understanding as leaders intend. For families, the useful question at a visit is how teachers check understanding in the moment, and how quickly a child who has “kept up” on paper but not fully grasped an idea is supported to catch up.

Most children transfer to local secondary provision at 11, and the school references established links with The Plume School, including transition days and creative arts links. For many pupils, that continuity is helpful because secondary can feel like a large jump, and familiar routines around transition reduce anxiety.

There is also acknowledgement that some families consider selective routes. The school notes that selection tests can be taken for local grammar schools and that these are administered by the selective schools themselves. In practice, this means Year 6 can include a mix of priorities across the cohort. Parents who prefer a lower-pressure final primary year may want to ask how homework and enrichment are balanced during the autumn term for pupils pursuing selection.

Admissions for Reception are coordinated by Essex County Council. The published admission number for the 2026 to 2027 intake is 60.

Demand is clearly strong. For the most recent admissions data provided, there were 170 applications for 60 offers, which is 2.83 applications per place. This is the practical reality behind the “oversubscribed” label: many families will need a Plan B that they genuinely like.

When oversubscribed, allocation is determined by the council’s published criteria, with tie-breaks decided by straight-line distance from home to school, closest given higher priority. A priority admission area is referenced in Essex admissions materials, but it is also made clear that living in that area does not guarantee a place.

The most useful next step for parents shortlisting is to use FindMySchoolMap Search to check your exact home-to-school distance, then compare it with recent allocation patterns. Where distance cut-offs are not published for a given year, treat proximity as an advantage rather than a promise.

Pastoral practice is closely tied to behaviour expectations. Pupils are taught clear routines and are encouraged to look after one another, particularly through older-younger buddy roles and structured responsibilities like pupil groups. This tends to suit children who thrive with predictable boundaries and like knowing what “good choices” look like in concrete terms.

Support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities is framed as access to the same curriculum, with adaptations and resources used to help pupils learn alongside peers. For families navigating additional needs, a practical question is how interventions are delivered without missing too much core teaching, and how communication between the class teacher and SEN leadership works week to week.

The school also references support for specific groups, including young carers, which can be a meaningful marker of how wellbeing is understood beyond academic performance.

This is an area where Wentworth provides more specific detail than many primaries. The extracurricular menu changes, but the school sets out a set of clubs typically offered, including netball, choir, recorders, dance, rounders, dodgeball, basketball, tennis, athletics, and “Run for fun”.

A useful distinction is that some activities are run by external providers, including archery, badminton, tag rugby and karate. The implication is choice and specialist coaching, but also that availability can vary by term, and booking may sit outside the school’s normal systems.

Sports participation appears actively encouraged through competitions and festivals, with the school documenting involvement in local tournaments, including football and tag rugby events, and showcasing pupils representing the school beyond the classroom. Music is also treated as a practical, hands-on entitlement, with opportunities for pupils to learn instruments and perform.

For parents, the key question is fit. Children who enjoy taking part will likely find plenty to join, while quieter children may benefit from lower-pressure options like choir, recorders, or targeted sports clubs designed to include reluctant participants.

The school day is clearly defined. Gates open at 8:40am, registration is at 8:45am, Key Stage 1 finishes at 3:10pm, and Key Stage 2 finishes at 3:15pm.

Wraparound care is available via provision on site that is run externally, including breakfast and after-school club for pupils. Because this is managed by an external provider, parents should check current hours, availability, and booking arrangements directly before relying on it for work patterns.

Transport-wise, many families will walk, scoot or drive from the local area. For those commuting further, Maldon’s rail access is via nearby stations outside the town, with onward travel by car or local bus connections.

• Competition for places. With 170 applications for 60 offers in the most recent data provided, oversubscription is significant. Have realistic contingencies and shortlist more than one school you would accept.

• Assessment consistency. A stated improvement point is making checking for misconceptions more consistent, so pupils build deeper understanding before moving on. Ask how this is handled in your child’s year group.

• Wraparound care is externally run. Breakfast and after-school club exists, but it is delivered via an external on-site provider, so hours and places can change. Confirm before relying on it.

• Secondary transition choices. Links with The Plume School appear strong, but some families also pursue selective tests. If you want a low-pressure Year 6, ask how the school balances cohort needs during that year.

Wentworth Primary School, Maldon offers a well-structured, high-expectations education with results that compare favourably with England averages and a clear culture of responsibility. It will suit families who want a calm, purposeful mainstream primary, with strong core outcomes and plenty of optional sport and music. The limiting factor is admission, so families should plan carefully, use distance tools intelligently, and keep credible alternatives in their shortlist.