St John's Marlborough

Overview

St John’s Marlborough is described as a school built on the ethos of ‘Kind, Supported, Happy’, where leaders are ambitious for all pupils to achieve highly. The report highlights that the school provides a broad, inclusive curriculum and prepares students well for their next steps, with positive relationships between staff and pupils. Recent changes to improve provision are beginning to show results, particularly regarding attendance, though leaders require further time to ensure these plans are fully embedded.

Strengths

• The curriculum is “broad and deliberately designed to be inclusive,” with a “very high” proportion of pupils studying the English Baccalaureate.
• Teachers possess “strong subject knowledge” and are “passionate about sharing their subject with pupils,” particularly in the sixth form.
• Behaviour is managed effectively through a new policy that enables lessons to take place “without disruption,” fostering “positive and mutually respectful relationships.”
• The school “accurately identifies the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND),” ensuring they learn as well as their peers.
• Attendance has improved due to clear expectations and “new systems for tracking absence” that provide timely support.

Areas to improve

• Assessment routines must be improved to accurately identify pupils’ starting points and gaps, ensuring the curriculum is adapted to provide necessary support or challenge.
• Recent changes to the quality of provision need further embedding and review to assure leaders of their “full positive impact on young people.”

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”