The Marlborough Church of England School is a semi-rural 11-18 comprehensive and co-educational school which has been part of the River Learning Trust (RLT) since 2018. Our school is popular and over-subscribed. 

There are currently 1053 pupils on roll, including 156 pupils in the Sixth Form and 25 pupils in our SENSS Resource base. We are delighted to work in partnership with the Ormerod Special Educational Needs Resource Base which enables pupils with a broad range of physical and learning disabilities to benefit from learning alongside their peers in a secondary school. As a Church of England school, Christian values underpin our ethos.

We are privileged to be located in Woodstock and enjoy excellent links and relationships with our local community, businesses and churches. The area from which pupils are drawn has a broad socio-economic mix, with a majority living in rural locations. A feature of the school is our Elective Programme which runs on Wednesday afternoons. The timetable is adapted to facilitate a diverse programme of activities and opportunities, both on and off-site, for pupils in Years 7–10.

Principal: Andrew Hanlon   

Values and vision 

At The Marlborough Church of England School, Woodstock, we are a learning community that is committed to excellence in all we do. We believe in the enrichment of the whole person and that every individual has the right to the best possible education. We are ambitious, rigorous, uncompromising and academically outstanding, and make sure our young people are nurtured, cherished and cared for. Our school cannot simply be measured by outcomes alone, but by the people it helps to shape.

As a Church School, we are open to those of all faiths, and those of none. Our vision is rooted in the Biblical narrative expressed in Matthew 5:16, ‘’let your light shine’’.

Underpinning our vision are three values that we share and live out within our daily lives as a school.  These have been agreed in our community and Respect, Perseverance and Ambition.

·       Respect: we believe in mutual respect between all members of our community, regardless of background, ability, race, culture, gender or sexuality. We are all members of ‘The Marlborough Family’. We do not tolerate bullying of any kind. We show empathy, compassion and kindness and treat others as we would want to be treated ourselves.

Perseverance: we value working hard and never giving up, especially when we find things challenging. We learn from our mistakes and have the courage to try new things and to take risks. We ask questions and show full commitment to everything we do.

Ambition: we aim to be the best we can be. We strive for academic excellence. We aim to find everyone’s talent; to nurture it and develop it.  We want the best possible futures and opportunities for ourselves and for every member of our community. We are proud to be part of our school.   

Ofsted report (July 2023) 

“Lessons are highly effective. Leaders support teachers in utilising teaching strategies that help pupils achieve highly, including those with SEND.

Pupils and staff share a mutual understanding of the importance of education. In lessons, staff give pupils time to think. Pupils respond by carefully considering the challenges they are set. They trust their teachers to design lessons which will improve their knowledge and help them to achieve highly.

Pupils know how each different part of their lessons will help them to learn more and remember more.”

“Pupils’ wider education is an important part of the curriculum. This helps pupils prepare for their future. Opportunities abound throughout the school.

Personal development is a priority in the school. Pupils take part in a rich selection of timetabled ‘Elective’ activities. These range from arts to performance and sporting endeavour. ‘Electives’ develop pupils’ wider love of learning and support their health and well-being.”

“The school’s values of ‘respect’, ‘perseverance’ and ‘ambition’ shape the way leaders develop the school. Pupils’ calm and highly positive behaviour is underpinned by leaders’ focus on the value of respect'

Leaders have created a supportive pastoral support system. Pupils appreciate knowing staff are there for them, including when there are the very rare incidents of bullying.

Staff at all levels are committed to and proud of the school.” 

You can read the full report here