John Whittingdale had Robin Walker MP, Minister for School Standards in the Department for Education, join him on a visit to the Plume Academy in Maldon. Mr Whittingdale and Mr Walker were shown around the Mill Road Campus, which is attended by 600 students from Years 7 and 8, by Executive Prinicipal, Carl Wakefield, and Chair of Trustees, Paul Nagle.
During their visit, Mr Whittingdale and Mr Walker were able to see a wide range of lessons being taught, including Technology, IT, Creative Writing, Maths, French, Science, Music and Dance. They also met with Plume’s Finance Director, Richard Scott, to discuss the funding for future expansion.
John Whittingdale said: “I am delighted that the Minister was able to visit the Plume Academy and to see at first hand the fantastic work that is taking place there. The Plume has gone from strength to strength and is now heavily over-subscribed in every year group. It is also due to expand further to accommodate families moving into Maldon and is forecast to become the biggest school in Essex, and possibly in East Anglia, in the next 4 years. This will pose funding challenges and I am pleased that the Minister was able to hear about these directly. As well as the quality of teaching, I know that the Minister was also very impressed by the attention paid to Special Educational needs, students’ mental health and the need to maintain safeguards against Covid which have succeeded in stopping any further outbreaks.”
