Helena Romanes School
Great Dunmow, CM6 2AU · Essex · all-through school
Check the area around this school
42nd of 78 secondary schools in Essex we can score, 81 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 869 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 1.3/10 among them, against 3.4/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 41.6 · 41 | 30% | 1.24 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.38 · 22 | 25% | 0.55 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 44.0 · 39 | 10% | 0.39 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Helena Romanes School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 49.5% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 46.6, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.38 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 2.6 out of 10 among them, against 4.6 out of 10 nationally. Ofsted rated the school Good in November 2023.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the School Council and participate in Charity Week. Sports include archery, tennis, football, basketball, and field games. Arts and music cover drawing, painting, junk modelling, sewing, mosaics, playdoh, clay, and cooking. Both breakfast and after-school clubs are available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,265 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,593. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to improve their Progress 8 scores? What specific support is available for students aiming for higher attainment in English and maths?
What Ofsted said about Helena Romanes School
Overview
Helena Romanes School is judged as ‘Good’ across all inspection categories, marking an improvement from its previous ‘Requires improvement’ rating. Pupils generally enjoy attending, benefiting from a diverse curriculum and strong pastoral support that fosters respect and safety. The school demonstrates high expectations for behaviour and achievement, with effective leadership driving continuous improvement.
Strengths
- The curriculum is carefully planned to build knowledge over time, with teachers adapting lessons to ensure all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, can access learning.
- Behaviour is well managed; staff consistently enforce high expectations, resulting in reduced disruption and improved attendance.
- Sixth-form students enjoy a ‘friendly and supportive’ environment with a wide range of subjects, leading to strong academic achievement.
- Early years provision is effective, with children making ‘substantial progress’ in reading and number understanding.
- Safeguarding arrangements are ‘effective’, and staff are skilled at supporting pupil well-being.
Areas to improve
- Leaders should promote and celebrate reading to ensure pupils develop a ‘love of reading’, as many currently do not read widely or often enough for pleasure.
- The curriculum should be reviewed to include regular opportunities for pupils to build ‘oracy’ skills, enabling them to communicate ideas more clearly and confidently.
Safeguarding
The report states that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 42.1 |
| 2024/25 | 46.6 |
| 2025/26 | 44.0 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
Saved schools live on this device only — no account, no tracking. Visit the school's website
Loading full school details…
Similar schools nearby
Same area, prioritising the same phase — useful for shortlisting alternatives.
Every school within 2.5 miles of CM6 2AU, with results, demand and deadlines — area report →
Have a specific question about admissions, scores or dates?
Ask SchoolsGPT