Marlwood School
Bristol, BS35 3LA · South Gloucestershire · secondary school
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9th of 16 secondary schools in South Gloucestershire we can score, 17 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 878 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 1.6/10 among them, against 3.6/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 40.4 · 38 | 30% | 1.16 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.22 · 33 | 25% | 0.83 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 43.3 · 35 | 10% | 0.35 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Marlwood School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 39.4% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 43.2, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.22 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 1.3 out of 10 among them, against 3.6 out of 10 nationally. Ofsted rated the school Good in December 2023.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join journalism, revision, and board games clubs, play Girls Football or Rugby, and participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award, gallery visits, and visiting artist workshops. An after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 510 pupils against a stated capacity of 750. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to improve their Progress 8 scores? What specific support is available for students aiming for higher attainment in English and maths? How does the after-school club integrate with the curriculum?
What Ofsted said about Marlwood School
Overview
Marlwood School is judged as ‘Good’ across all inspection categories, marking significant improvement from its previous ‘Requires improvement’ rating. The report describes a calm atmosphere where pupils enjoy their time, feel safe, and respond well to high expectations for behaviour and achievement. Staff build positive relationships with pupils, who are keen to do well and take pride in leadership roles.
Strengths
- The curriculum is now ‘broad and ambitious for all pupils’, with essential knowledge and vocabulary clearly identified.
- Teachers possess the subject expertise needed to explain new knowledge clearly and check what pupils have learned.
- Pupils ‘enjoy their time at Marlwood School’ and have a ‘trusted adult they can talk to about any worries’.
- Most pupils read widely, becoming ‘more confident readers’, with swift support provided for those needing improvement.
- Pupils are ‘well prepared for their next steps’ through helpful careers guidance and work experience opportunities.
Areas to improve
- Some teaching activities do not allow pupils to ‘deepen their understanding or apply the knowledge they have’, meaning they do not always learn as well as they could.
- The school does not always ‘identify and tackle the underlying causes of poor behaviour quickly enough’, leading to repeated issues for a small number of pupils.
- The school does not use information about behaviour and personal development effectively to ‘identify or address the root causes of issues that affect groups of pupils’.
Safeguarding
The report states that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 47.6 |
| 2024/25 | 43.2 |
| 2025/26 | 43.3 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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