When the school doors opened in 1939, a bishop blessed the building as Woodstock's new secondary modern, anchoring it in the spiritual heritage of the town's Cathedral connections. Today, nearly nine decades later, that same foundation stone marks the entrance to a thriving comprehensive serving over 1,000 students from across Oxfordshire. The Marlborough ranks 1st in Woodstock for GCSE outcomes among secondary schools in the area (FindMySchool data), with an Attainment 8 score of 52.4. Its sixth form sits in the top 25% nationally for A-level performance (FindMySchool ranking), a position reinforced by consistent above-average Progress 8 scores. The school has expanded substantially since opening, with the 2010 Hodgson Science Centre and the 2007 Marlborough Enterprise Centre adding modern facilities to the historic Victorian main building. Mixed gender, non-selective, and with 156 students in the sixth form, Marlborough has become heavily oversubscribed, receiving 394 applications for just 167 primary places in recent admissions cycles.
The 1939 brick building still stands at the heart of campus, its original stone entrance marking continuity across generations. Over the decades, purposeful extensions have transformed the single-storey wartime structure into a sprawling campus. The Ormerod Resource Base, integrated into the school since 2005, provides specialist support for pupils with physical and learning disabilities, creating a culture of genuine inclusion where students of all abilities learn alongside peers.
Principal Andrew Hanlon has led the school since November 2015, bringing a decade of experience from London day school leadership. Under his stewardship, the school maintains three core values: Respect, Perseverance, and Ambition. These are not posters; staff and students reference them naturally in daily conversation. The school's Christian foundation remains visible through regular chapel services, a tradition that continues to anchor the ethos despite the school's openness to all faiths.
The atmosphere balances academic rigour with pastoral care. Staff turnover is relatively low, creating stability and continuity. The physical setting — nestled in Woodstock, 8 miles northwest of Oxford — combines semi-rural calm with genuine access to cultural resources. Students speak of the school community as supportive and inclusive, with particular praise for how the Ormerod department provides exceptional support for students with additional needs.
In 2024, the school achieved an Attainment 8 score of 52.4, placing it in the top 23% of schools in England (FindMySchool ranking). The Marlborough ranks 1st in Woodstock locally. Progress 8 stands at +0.3, indicating above-average progress from starting points. 64% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and mathematics, a key benchmark. The school's English Baccalaureate performance reached 19%, with an average EBacc APS of 4.64, both above the England average of 4.08.
The results reflect solid middle-tier performance nationally. While not in the elite tier, the school's consistent achievement of above-average Progress 8 demonstrates effective teaching and targeted support for individual students.
The sixth form delivers markedly stronger outcomes. In the latest data, 68% of A-level grades fell into the A*-B range. The school ranks 354th in England for A-level performance, placing it in the top 25% nationally (FindMySchool data). Breaking down the grades: 17% achieved A*, 26% achieved A, and 25% achieved B. These results sit well above the England average for A*-A grades (24%), particularly in the A* category.
One Cambridge student was admitted in 2024, reflecting modest but real Oxbridge penetration. The school's strength lies in consistent university progression, with 63% of sixth form leavers in the 2023-24 cohort progressing to university-level study.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
A-Level A*-B
68.3%
% of students achieving grades A*-B
GCSE 9–7
—
% of students achieving grades 9-7
The school follows a structured curriculum delivered by specialist subject teachers. Most teaching is noted as effective with strong subject knowledge, though consistency varies across departments. The science curriculum benefits from the £3.8-million Hodgson Science Centre, a purpose-built facility opened in 2010 that signals investment in practical learning. The centre includes modern laboratories equipped for chemistry, physics, and biology practicals at GCSE and A-level.
The "Electives" system underpins enrichment. Students in Years 8-11 choose from six extracurricular options each year, with preferences allocated across the three terms. This structured approach ensures broad participation rather than the typical model where only the most motivated pursue clubs. Most electives are free; some involving trips incur costs. Year 7 receives an introductory electives programme, encouraging early engagement.
Sixth form teaching emphasises independent study, with allocated free periods and a culture of self-directed learning. The school's commitment to excellence runs through all phases, though teaching quality reflects the reality of a typical comprehensive: capable and professional, but not uniformly outstanding.
Quality of Education
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Behaviour & Attitudes
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Personal Development
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Leadership & Management
Good
The school's extracurricular provision reflects a genuine attempt to balance accessibility with depth. The Electives system is the primary vehicle, dedicating two Wednesday afternoons each week to clubs and activities. Alongside this structured provision, the school hosts multiple specific societies and programmes.
The Marlborough School Chamber Choir has achieved recognition beyond the school, with multiple tours to European cities including Venice, Prague, and Barcelona. The school produces annual summer shows featuring large-scale productions; recent productions have included Oliver!, Grease, The Wizard of Oz, and Bugsy Malone. The December Christmas Concert brings the broader music provision into focus. These performances happen in the Marlborough Enterprise Centre, a theatre facility opened in 2007 that hosts student-led productions throughout the year.
The MEC (Marlborough Enterprise Centre), a £1-million facility opened in 2007, contains a theatre and cinema. Student-led drama runs throughout the year, supporting both the annual summer show and smaller productions. The opening production in the MEC was a full student production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat in July 2007, a signal of the quality expected. Drama electives and theatre trips expose students to professional practice.
Sports provision includes football, netball, and other team activities. The school enjoys access to Blenheim Park for outdoor sports, a distinctive advantage few schools possess. An annual Fun Run fundraises for local causes, including The Woodstock Pensioners' Christmas Dinner, embedding community service into sport. Duke of Edinburgh awards run through all phases, with Gold expedition training occurring on site.
The Oxfordshire Youth Chemistry Conference, hosted on site in late 2025, reflects the school's engagement with competitive academic challenge. Physics, chemistry, and biology share the modern Hodgson Science Centre facilities. Subject clubs and academic competitions exist, though the school does not brand itself as a STEM specialist.
The school received the British Council's International School Award for 2009-2012 and 2012-2015, reflecting genuine international curriculum work. A German Exchange Trip runs regularly, providing language students with immersion and cultural exchange. This recognition indicates structured, embedded international learning rather than one-off trips.
Beyond traditional clubs, the electives system offers breadth. Students select from options across terms, ranging from practical skills to academic enrichment. The structured choice mechanism (ranking six preferences) ensures genuine student agency while preventing over-subscribed activities.
The school draws from a wide area across Oxfordshire. Applications consistently exceed places significantly. In recent admissions, 394 applications competed for 167 primary places, a ratio of 2.36 applications per place. Among first preferences, the proportion of allocated places was similarly competitive, indicating genuine demand.
Year 7 entry follows standard coordinated admissions through Oxfordshire, with non-selective criteria. Places are allocated by distance and sibling links after looked-after children. The sixth form welcomes internal progression and external applications; current sixth form numbers sit at 156, accommodating both newcomers and continuing Year 11 students.
For families outside the immediate Woodstock area, the school's location requires consideration. Proximity to Oxford (8 miles) means some students commute; school transport is available through the local authority.
Applications
394
Total received
Places Offered
167
Subscription Rate
2.4x
Apps per place
The school day runs from approximately 8:50am to 3:20pm. Wednesday afternoons incorporate the Electives programme, adding a structured early finish or extended day depending on activity choice. The Marlborough Enterprise Centre provides modern teaching and performance spaces alongside the historic main building. A canteen provides daily meal options.
Pastoral structures place students in form tutor groups, with house systems providing additional community. The school has low absence rates (6%) and maintains clear safeguarding procedures. Staff genuinely understand individual students; the integrated Ormerod Resource Base means mainstream students encounter inclusive education as a natural practice.
Mental health receives explicit attention through PSHE curriculum and school nurse services. Bullying is addressed proactively, with transparent reporting procedures. The school's Christian foundation translates into practical care: students speak of feeling known and supported.
Entry competitiveness. With 2.36 applications per place, admission is selective by distance and circumstance, not entrance test. Families need to live within the catchment or have sibling links to secure places reliably. Verify current distance criteria before committing property decisions.
Mixed outcomes. While A-level results are notably strong (top 25% nationally), GCSE outcomes are solidly middle-tier (top 23% nationally). For families prioritising academic stretch at secondary stage, the school's GCSE cohort shows less dramatic advantage than some alternatives. A-level performance suggests effective teaching and school culture; GCSE results reflect a comprehensive intake with mixed prior attainment.
Ormerod integration. The embedded resourced provision for students with SEND is genuine and praised, but places mainstream students in an inclusive environment. Some families prioritise separate settings; the school's philosophy is full integration, which is a conscious choice.
A church secondary school with real community roots and genuine inclusive practice. The A-level sixth form outperforms many selective schools, while GCSE results demonstrate solid progress from a comprehensive intake. The school succeeds in its stated aim: ambition without arrogance, rigour balanced with pastoral care. Best suited to families in or near Woodstock seeking non-selective education with strong sixth form options and inclusive values. The main draw is A-level access and progression; entry depends on proximity or circumstances.
The school was rated Good by Ofsted in February 2018. A-level results place it in the top 25% of schools in England (FindMySchool ranking), with 68% of grades at A*-B. GCSE results are solid, with an Attainment 8 score of 52.4 and Progress 8 of +0.3. One Cambridge place was secured in 2024. The school succeeds in creating an inclusive community while maintaining academic ambition.
At GCSE in 2024, the school achieved an Attainment 8 score of 52.4 (top 23% nationally) and a Progress 8 score of +0.3 (above average). 64% achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. At A-level, 68% of grades were A*-B, placing the sixth form in the top 25% nationally. Results show effective sixth form teaching alongside solid GCSE outcomes.
The school is non-selective but highly oversubscribed. In recent admissions, 394 applications competed for 167 primary places (2.36 applications per place). Places are allocated by distance and sibling links after looked-after children. Proximity to Woodstock is the key factor; families outside the immediate catchment area may find places difficult to secure.
The Electives programme allows Years 8-11 to choose six extracurricular activities annually, with preferences allocated across terms. Activities include music (Chamber Choir with European tours), drama (summer productions including Grease and Oliver!), sports, and Duke of Edinburgh awards. The Marlborough Enterprise Centre hosts theatre productions and performances. International exchange trips (Germany) and academic conferences (chemistry) are also offered.
The school comprises the original 1939 building, the £3.8-million Hodgson Science Centre (opened 2010), and the Marlborough Enterprise Centre (opened 2007) containing a theatre and cinema. Modern science facilities support GCSE and A-level practicals. Students access Blenheim Park for outdoor sports. The school is semi-rural but close to Oxford's cultural resources.
The sixth form currently has 156 students and welcomes both internal progression and external applicants. A-level results are notably strong, with 68% at A*-B. Students enjoy free dress and allocated study periods. Progression to university is strong, with 63% of leavers in 2023-24 progressing to university. The sixth form aims to prepare students for independent study and competitive university entry.
The school operates the Ormerod Resource Base, integrated into the mainstream setting. This serves approximately 25 pupils with physical and learning disabilities, enabling them to learn alongside mainstream peers. The school's inclusive ethos means students with a range of needs are supported within mainstream classes. The Ormerod team is praised by parents for providing exceptional, specialised support.
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