Lift Maltings
Witham, CM8 1EP · Essex · secondary school
Check the area around this school
70th 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 912 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 0.9/10 among them, against 2.2/10 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 | 11 | 35% | 0.39 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 37.7 · 32 | 30% | 0.95 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.64 · 10 | 25% | 0.25 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 40.6 · 22 | 10% | 0.23 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Lift Maltings overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 42.2% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 39.9, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.64 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 1.4 out of 10 among them, against 2.8 out of 10 nationally. Ofsted inspected the school in March 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
The school provides both a breakfast club and an after-school club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 787 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,100. 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
With Progress 8 below 0, how does the school support students to close the gap between their starting point and final results? Since the March 2026 inspection uses separate area grades, which specific areas received the highest scores? How do the breakfast and after-school clubs integrate with the wider curriculum?
What Ofsted said about Lift Maltings
Overview
Lift Maltings is described as a school where leaders have acted promptly to improve the offer following a period of turbulence. The report highlights a "calm environment" with positive relationships, noting that pupils are "increasingly proud of their school." While teaching and personal development are improving, the report identifies that achievement remains below national averages and that consistency in supporting vulnerable pupils requires further embedding.
Strengths
- Leaders have established an "open culture" for safeguarding where concerns are actively identified and managed, ensuring pupils feel safe.
- The curriculum is "ambitious and thoughtfully designed," with teachers demonstrating "secure subject knowledge" and clear expectations for behaviour.
- Pupils benefit from a "well-planned personal development programme" that includes discussions on respectful relationships, internet safety, and fundamental British values.
- Staff provide "well-focused, effective support" for pupils needing help with behaviour, and bullying is "not tolerated."
- There is a "positive culture" supported by pupil leadership roles, such as anti-bullying ambassadors, and strong pastoral care for vulnerable students.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure consistently high-quality teaching leads to improved achievement for all pupils, particularly those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and disadvantaged pupils.
- Staff need continued support to implement "reasonable adjustments and adaptations" so that SEND and disadvantaged pupils receive "precise support."
- Leaders should embed teaching approaches, ensuring all teachers use checks on learning to address "gaps in pupils’ knowledge" and improve writing skills.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders fulfilling their responsibilities and establishing an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 39.0 |
| 2024/25 | 39.9 |
| 2025/26 | 40.6 |
| 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
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