Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #57 in Essex public Top 37% UK

Lift Maltings

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMs Michelle Hughes

corporate_fareACADEMIES ENTERPRISE TRUST

location_onWitham, CM8 1EP

language Visit Website phone 1376512911

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

891

trending_up

Attainment 8

39.9

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#56 in Essex

#2,545 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Lift Maltings is a Academy sponsor led secondary school in Witham, serving ages 11-16. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards.

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School Summary

Lift Maltings is an academy sponsor led in Witham, Essex, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of ACADEMIES ENTERPRISE TRUST. The school has approximately 841 pupils on roll, of whom 26% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 39.9, placing the school #56 in Essex and #2,545 of 3,216 nationally. 42.20% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 10.1% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Requires improvement, behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement, personal development Requires improvement, and leadership and management Requires improvement.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.8× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 22.9:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 2 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 9.6 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

39.9

Grade 5+ E&M

42.20%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)10.1%

Entering EBacc19.30%

EBacc APS3.33

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.64

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc20.50%

EBacc APS3.35

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.36

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

43.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc30%

EBacc APS3.80

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.52

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc9%

EBacc APS3.82

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc13%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.44

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc18%

EBacc APS3.48

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.34

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

44.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc11%

EBacc APS3.56

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

88%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)82%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

87%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)72%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment13%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)12%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)87%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

90%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2022

Avg Grade

C-

Students

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

01 May 2024

Inspection Report

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19 September 2023

Inspection Report

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08 October 2020

Inspection Report

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10 January 2018

Inspection Report

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04 March 2015

Inspection Report

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05 March 2013

Inspection Report

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02 March 2011

Inspection Report

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16 March 2010

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2023-09-19

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Requires improvement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2018-01-10

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2015-03-04

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2013-03-05

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

9.4%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

6.3%(53 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 841 pupils. During this period, there were 79 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 9.4%, which is above the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	841	79	9.4%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	840	82	9.8%	7.8%	2
2023/24 (Summer term)	869	111	12.8%	7.4%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	891	155	17.4%	7.1%	4
2023/24 (Autumn term)	891	206	23.1%	8.2%	1
2022/23 (Summer term)	883	175	19.8%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	891	111	12.5%	6.4%	2
2022/23 (Autumn term)	889	43	4.8%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	943	31	3.3%	4.7%	2
2021/22 (Spring term)	949	50	5.3%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	954	69	7.2%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	969	44	4.5%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	976	5	0.5%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	980	71	7.2%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	987	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	987	38	3.9%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,000	35	3.5%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	989	20	2.0%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	989	56	5.7%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	996	29	2.9%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,028	31	3.0%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,034	36	3.5%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,038	46	4.4%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,018	35	3.4%	3.0%	2
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,029	66	6.4%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,035	48	4.6%	3.1%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 47 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 32 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 16 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 11 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 9 pupils

Hearing Impairment 6 pupils

Visual Impairment 1 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

11.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

14.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

11.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree3%

agree5%

disagree14%

strongly disagree78%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

agree14%

disagree38%

strongly disagree46%

don't know3%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree5%

agree11%

disagree38%

strongly disagree32%

don't know8%

not applicable5%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes30%

no70%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

agree18%

disagree27%

strongly disagree45%

dont know9%

The school has high expectations for my child.

agree19%

disagree27%

strongly disagree46%

don't know8%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree3%

agree5%

disagree35%

strongly disagree49%

don't know8%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree3%

agree30%

disagree38%

strongly disagree24%

don't know5%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree3%

agree59%

disagree11%

strongly disagree22%

don't know5%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree8%

agree51%

disagree14%

strongly disagree14%

don't know14%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

agree16%

disagree43%

strongly disagree32%

don't know8%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes3%

no97%

Top Secondary Schools in Essex

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford

Outstanding

location_on Chelmsford, CM1 3SX

emoji_events #1 in LA

Chelmsford County High School for Girls

Outstanding

location_on Chelmsford, CM1 1RW

emoji_events #2 in LA

Colchester Royal Grammar School

Inadequate

location_on Colchester, CO3 3ND

emoji_events #3 in LA

Colchester County High School for Girls

Outstanding

location_on Colchester, CO3 3US

emoji_events #4 in LA

Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School

Good

location_on Brentwood, CM14 4EX

emoji_events #5 in LA

Saffron Walden County High School

Outstanding

location_on Saffron Walden, CB11 4UH

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Essex arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Essex

King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford

Chelmsford County High School for Girls

Colchester Royal Grammar School

Colchester County High School for Girls

Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School

Saffron Walden County High School