Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #28 in Essex public Top 21% UK

Helena Romanes School

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

personMs Catherine Davis

corporate_fareSAFFRON ACADEMY TRUST

location_onGreat Dunmow, CM6 2AU

language Visit Website phone 1371872560

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2023

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Students

1,264

trending_up

Attainment 8

46.6

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GCSE Rank

#27 in Essex

#1,437 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Helena Romanes School is a Academy converter secondary school in Great Dunmow, serving ages 4-18. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

Helena Romanes School is an academy converter in Great Dunmow, Essex, admitting pupils aged 4-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of SAFFRON ACADEMY TRUST. The school has approximately 1,309 pupils on roll, of whom 19% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 46.6, placing the school #27 in Essex and #1,437 of 3,216 nationally. 49.50% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 17.1% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 19 A-level subjects. 21.1% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 7.6% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.54 — students made below-average progress at sixth form.

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

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

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 19.1:1. There are 2 teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 3 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 9.0 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

46.6

Grade 5+ E&M

49.50%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)17.1%

Entering EBacc34.90%

EBacc APS4.09

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.38

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

42.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc37.90%

EBacc APS3.64

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.30

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

45.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc36%

EBacc APS3.88

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.11

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc44%

EBacc APS4.31

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc47%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.35

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

44.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc54%

EBacc APS3.79

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.24

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

44.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc54%

EBacc APS3.85

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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

90%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)80%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

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

Apprenticeships5%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

98%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)92%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)88%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

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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.

2025

A-Level Value Added

-0.54

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

D+

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*3.5%

Achieving A*–A7.6%

Achieving A*–B21.1%

VA Banding Below average

Retention rate95.5%

A-level subjects offered19

2024

A-Level Value Added

-0.31

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate95.10%

2023

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate87.00%

2022

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Retention rate95.2%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 61%

Reading-% LA 74%

Writing-% LA 70%

Maths-% LA 72%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 60%England 61%

Reading-% LA 73% · Eng 74%

Writing-% LA 70% · Eng 72%

Maths-% LA 71% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 59%England 60%

Reading-% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing-% LA 71% · Eng 71%

Maths-% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

LA -0.1

Write

LA 0.0

Maths

LA -0.3

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

10 October 2023

Inspection Report

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08 October 2019

Inspection Report

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10 March 2016

Inspection Report

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06 May 2015

Inspection Report

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13 November 2012

Inspection Report

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10 August 2012

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

5 Evaluations

2023-10-10

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2019-10-08

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2016-03-10

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2012-11-13

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2010-05-10

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

Good

history Predecessor Link

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

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

Suspension Rate

9.0%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

4.7%(61 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,309 pupils. During this period, there were 118 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 9.0%, 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)	1,309	118	9.0%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,314	119	9.1%	7.8%	2
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,289	114	8.8%	7.4%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,287	145	11.3%	7.1%	3
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,292	155	12.0%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,262	317	25.1%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,264	306	24.2%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,282	243	19.0%	5.9%	2
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,251	161	12.9%	4.7%	2
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,249	98	7.8%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,255	51	4.1%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,213	15	1.2%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,222	4	0.3%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,225	17	1.4%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,213	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,213	24	2.0%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,213	21	1.7%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,205	40	3.3%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,198	36	3.0%	3.8%	2
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,202	22	1.8%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,164	45	3.9%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,168	64	5.5%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,184	61	5.2%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,206	79	6.6%	3.0%	1
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,220	78	6.4%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,236	39	3.2%	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.

Specific Learning Difficulty 74 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 66 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 27 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 21 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 20 pupils

Hearing Impairment 6 pupils

Visual Impairment 3 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 2 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

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Helena Romanes School

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

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)

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