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Reviewed

St John's Marlborough

State school · Marlborough, SN8 4AX
  • Secondary
  • Co-ed
  • Ages 11-18
  • 1,700 pupils
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A modern comprehensive with fantastic (almost new) facilities. Great reputation for sports and performing arts, and an impressive range of extracurricular opportunities. Good at developing the brightest as well as those that may struggle either academically or emotionally.

Why read our school review?

Unlike other websites, schools can't pay to be included in The Good Schools Guide. This means our review of this school is independent, critical and fair, and written with parents' best interests at heart.

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Overview & data

Pupil numbers
1,700 ·
Sixth form numbers
400 ·
Religion
None
Local authority
Wiltshire Council

Headteacher

Principal

Mr Alan Henderson

Since September 2023, Alan Henderson. His 25-year career in education began as a history teacher and St John’s is his third headship, including four years at John O’Gaunt School in Hungerford and four years at Melksham Oak Community School. Married

Entrance

Oversubscribed. At least 12 feeder primary schools in a large catchment area. Many pupils come from small primary schools, so arriving at St John’s with its 1,700 pupils can be a little overwhelming for some. However, parents agree that the process

Entry and exit data - year 7 entry (average 2020-2022)

Marlborough St Mary's CE Primary School 20 %
Preshute Church of England Primary School 10 %
Great Bedwyn Church of England School 9 %
Ramsbury Primary School 8 %
Other 8 %
Where the number of students is less than 10, we cannot say where they've come from or where they are going to due to data protection rules.
St Michael's CofE Aided Primary 8 %
Burbage Primary School 7 %
St Katharine's CofE Primary School 5 %
Kennet Valley Church of England Aided Primary School 5 %
Ogbourne CofE Primary School 4 %
Oare Church of England Primary School 4 %
Baydon St Nicholas Church of England Primary School 4 %
Unknown 3 %
Where the school a student attended before or after this school is not known. These might be students who have come from or going to home schooling, independent schools, moving abroad etc.
Hungerford Primary School 2 %
Chilton Foliat Church of England Primary School 1 %
Pewsey Primary School 1 %
Shalbourne CofE Primary School 1 %
Data highlight

Exit

Some 70 per cent of students stay on to sixth form. The rest tend to go to New College or Swindon College. Around five per cent go on to apprenticeships. On average 35 external students join the sixth form.

Around 80 per cent go to university, 40

% students progressing to higher education or training (2021 leavers)

School
82%
LA avg.
63%
Eng. avg.
66%
Data highlight

What is this?

The proportion of 16-18 students that progressed to degrees, higher apprenticeships or other study at level 4 or above for at least 6 consecutive months in the 2 years after taking advanced level qualifications (level 3) at this school or college.

Latest results

In 2025, 26 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 21per cent A*/A at A level (48 per cent A*-B).

GCSE - % of pupils achieving grade 5 or above (A* to C) in English and maths GCSE (2024)

School
59.1%
LA avg.
45.2%
Eng. avg.
45.9%
Data highlight

What is this?

This tells you the percentage of pupils who achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs.

A levels or equivalent - Average points score (2024)

School
36.56
LA avg.
35.46
Eng. avg.
34.45
Data highlight

What is this?

These figures tell you the average grade and average points that pupils achieved in their academic qualifications. A maximum of 60 points are available for a grade A* at A level.

Teaching & learning

Twenty-five A levels offered including classical civilisation, Latin and government & politics. Maths, sciences and psychology are popular at A level, as is English. All produce consistently solid results. Vocational courses were added in 2016 to

Qualifications taken in 2024
  • A level
  • BTEC
  • EPQ
  • GCSE
  • VRQ
92
Number of teachers
19:1
Pupil to teacher ratio

Learning support & SEN

Additional educational needs include gifted and talented as well as SEND and EAL. Some 13 per cent of pupils have SENDs, ranging from dyslexia to complex needs and medical problems. They may have in-class support, teaching in small groups, specialist

2.5 %
Students with a SEN EHCP
11 %
Students with SEN support

Arts & extracurricular

Art is popular with around 20 pupils opting for A level each year. On average, 50 per cent of these go on to do foundation courses. The fantastic studios, with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the playing fields, are open every break and

Sport

Plenty of opportunities for the sports-mad child. Lots of success, too: St John's boys’ cricket teams are unbeaten in every age group and several pupils play at national level in basketball or compete internationally in athletics, figure skating or

Ethos & heritage

Founded in 1975, St John's Marlborough (formerly St John's School and Community College) took over the site of the recently closed Marlborough Royal Free Grammar School (founded in 1550) and the Marlborough Secondary Modern School. In 1998 the school

Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline

A senior medical coordinator, qualified first aiders and a visiting school health nurse look after the general health of all at St John's. There are also two counsellors as well as key workers, non-teaching staff members who can be contacted by

Pupils & parents

Catchment covers over 250 square miles of north east Wiltshire and beyond. Pupils come from as far as Avebury and Oxfordshire, with some sixth formers travelling further.

We arrived at break-time as the atrium filled up with 1,700 pupils. As we

1,700
Number of pupils

Money matters

Pupil premium plus an opportunities fund to help with cost of trips or clubs. 16-19 bursary fund available.

The last word

A modern comprehensive with fantastic (almost new) facilities. Great reputation for sports and performing arts, and an impressive range of extracurricular opportunities. Good at developing the brightest as well as those that may struggle either

Inspection reports

Ofsted reports

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer makes an overall effectiveness judgement in inspections of state-funded schools.

Full inspection:

You can read full reports on the Ofsted website

Personal development Good
Quality of education Good
Behaviour and attitudes Good
Leadership and management Good
Sixth form provision Good

Full inspection: Outstanding

Leadership and management Outstanding

This school has not provided any information yet

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Contact the school

Address

Granham Hill
Marlborough
Wiltshire
SN8 4AX
Get directions

Telephone: 01672 516156

Email: enquiries@stjohns.excalibur.org.uk

Website: https://www.stjohns.excalibur.org.uk/

Local authority: Wiltshire Council

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School data & information St John's Marlborough Granham Hill, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 4AX
1,700 Pupil numbers
400 Sixth form numbers
12.2 % % of pupils eligible for free school meals
5 % Pupils whose first language is not English
19:1 Pupil to teacher ratio
92 Number of teachers
22 Number of teaching assistants
Our review contains additional results data reported to us by St John's Marlborough and is updated annually. See the review

% achieving grade 5 or above (A* to C) in English and maths GCSE (2024)

School
59.1%
LA avg.
45.2%
Eng. avg.
45.9%

What is this?

This tells you the percentage of pupils who achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs.

Average overall GCSE score (attainment 8) (2024)

School
53.40
LA avg.
46.10
Eng. avg.
45.90

What is this?

Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications, which include English, maths, 3 English Baccalaureate qualifications including sciences, computer science, history, geography and languages, and 3 other additional approved qualifications.

Improvement rates in core subjects (progress 8) (2024)

0.36 Score Above average
≈ 16% of schools in England

What is a progress score?

This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4, compared to pupils across England who got similar results at the end of key stage 2. This is based on results in up to 8 qualifications, which include English, maths, 3 English Baccalaureate qualifications including sciences, computer science, history, geography and languages, and 3 other additional approved qualifications.

Subjects entered at GCSE level (2024)

Pupils attending this school entered exams in these subjects. The list only includes qualifications approved for inclusion in the performance measures. The subjects and qualifications on offer at this school may change year on year. For a full list of subjects and qualifications on offer at this school, visit the school or college website or contact the school directly. Find out more

Subject Qualification Entries Avg. grade
Spanish GCSE (9-1) Full Course 53 5
Religious Studies GCSE (9-1) Full Course 57 7
Physics GCSE (9-1) Full Course 78 7
Physical Education/Sports Studies GCSE (9-1) Full Course 21 5
Music GCSE (9-1) Full Course 17 5
Mathematics GCSE (9-1) Full Course 255 6
Latin GCSE (9-1) Full Course 17 5
History GCSE (9-1) Full Course 138 5
German GCSE (9-1) Full Course 29 6
Geography GCSE (9-1) Full Course 139 6
French GCSE (9-1) Full Course 93 6
English Literature GCSE (9-1) Full Course 249 6
English Language GCSE (9-1) Full Course 256 6
Design & Technology GCSE (9-1) Full Course 43 5
D&T Food Technology GCSE (9-1) Full Course 60 6
Computer Studies/Computing GCSE (9-1) Full Course 35 6
Classical Civilisation GCSE (9-1) Full Course 20 4
Chemistry GCSE (9-1) Full Course 79 7
Biology GCSE (9-1) Full Course 79 7
Art & Design (Textiles) GCSE (9-1) Full Course 19 6
Art & Design (Photography) GCSE (9-1) Full Course 47 6
Art & Design (Graphics) GCSE (9-1) Full Course 12 5
Art & Design (Fine Art) GCSE (9-1) Full Course 48 6

% of pupils achieving AAB or higher, including at least 2 facilitating subjects (2024)

School
20.5%
LA avg.
18.2%
Eng. avg.
17.1%

What is this?

Facilitating A levels are ones that are commonly needed for entry to leading universities. They are: biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, further mathematics, geography, history, English literature and classical or modern languages. The % of pupils achieving AAB or higher may therefore decrease if many pupils have opted not to take two or more of the facilitating subjects mentioned.

Average points score (2024)

School
36.56
LA avg.
35.46
Eng. avg.
34.45

What is this?

These figures tell you the average grade and average points that pupils achieved in their academic qualifications. A maximum of 60 points are available for a grade A* at A level.

Subjects entered at 16 to 18 (2024)

Pupils attending this school entered exams in these subjects. The list only includes qualifications approved for inclusion in the performance measures. The subjects and qualifications on offer at this school may change year on year. For a full list of subjects and qualifications on offer at this school, visit the school or college website or contact the school directly. Find out more

Subject Qualification Entries Avg. grade
Sociology GCE A level 34 B
Religious Studies GCE A level 28 A
Psychology GCE A level 40 B
Physics GCE A level 22 B
Mathematics (Further) GCE A level 13 A
Mathematics GCE A level 50 A
History GCE A level 32 B
Government and Politics GCE A level 11 B
Geography GCE A level 31 B
Environmental Science GCE A level 10 B
English Literature GCE A level 34 B
English Language GCE A level 18 B
Economics GCE A level 28 B
Design and Technology (Textiles Technology) GCE A level 6 C
Design and Technology (Product Design) GCE A level 7 B
Computer Studies / Computing GCE A level 7 A
Classical Civilisation GCE A level 14 B
Chemistry GCE A level 30 B
Business Studies:Single GCE A level 26 B
Biology GCE A level 36 B
Art and Design GCE A level 35 A

Entry and exit data

Here we report figures on pupils moving between schools at the usual entry and exit points, as well as student destinations into higher education. We publish publically available data for state schools. For independent schools, The Good Schools Guide collects data from its prep schools as to where their pupils go on to. Find out more

Our review contains additional entry and exit data reported to us and is updated annually. See the review

Year 7 entry (average 2020-2022)

Year 12 entry (average 2020-2022)

Year 11 exit (average 2020-2022)

Year 13 exit

SEN overview

St John's Marlborough is a mainstream school with resourced provision. If you require more information on conditions the school can support, we encourage you to contact the school directly.

2.5 %
Students with a SEN EHCP UK mainstream school avg. 2.7%
11 %
Students with SEN support UK mainstream school avg. 12.9%

SEN conditons supported

Schools report the conditions they might be able to support. Please note, this may not be a complete list. Find out more.

Conditions (Might cover/be referred to as) Provision
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder Aspergers, Autism, High functioning autism, Neurodivergent, Neurodiversity, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), Social skills
HI - Hearing Impairment
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty Learning needs
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment Sensory processing
OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability Downs Syndrome, Epilepsy, Genetic, Tics, Tourettes
PD - Physical Disability
PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty Complex needs, Global delay, Global developmental delay
SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health Anxiety, Complex needs, Emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), Mental Health
SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication Selective mutism
SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty Complex needs
SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Auditory processing, Developmental Co-ordination Difficulties (DCD), Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Handwriting Yes
VI - Visual Impairment Special facilities for Visually Impaired

Ofsted reports

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer makes an overall effectiveness judgement in inspections of state-funded schools.

Full inspection:

You can read full reports on the Ofsted website

Personal development Good
Quality of education Good
Behaviour and attitudes Good
Leadership and management Good
Sixth form provision Good

Full inspection: Outstanding

Leadership and management Outstanding
Our data explained
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