The Marches School
Oswestry, SY11 2AR · Shropshire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
11th of 20 secondary schools in Shropshire we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 876 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 0.3/10 among them, against 1.7/10 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 | 27.1 · 10 | 30% | 0.31 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.29 · 28 | 25% | 0.70 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 38.1 · 12 | 10% | 0.12 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The Marches School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 38.5% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 43.1, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.29 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 3.3 out of 10 nationally. Ofsted rated the school Good in November 2023.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Italian, Art and Photography, Band, Chess, Debate, Eco, Games, and knitting clubs. Sports include football, rugby, dodgeball, and fitness. Arts and music options include the Male Voice Choir, Senior Choir, Voice Box, and the School Production. An after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,346 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,500. 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 to raise their Attainment 8 above the national median? How does the school manage class sizes with 154
What Ofsted said about The Marches School
Overview
The Marches School is rated as ‘Good’ across all inspection categories, including overall effectiveness, the quality of education, and leadership. Pupils generally enjoy attending school, benefiting from respectful relationships with staff and a curriculum that is described as ‘well designed and ambitious’. The school fosters a positive environment where students feel safe and are well prepared for their next steps.
Strengths
- The curriculum features ‘learning journeys’ that clearly identify important learning, with teachers using ‘live’ assessment to quickly identify and address gaps in pupil understanding.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are ‘very well supported’, with needs identified rapidly and carefully considered plans put in place.
- Reading is a high priority, with daily reading in key stage 3 and targeted support ensuring that pupils who find reading difficult ‘catch up rapidly’.
- Sixth-form students play an ‘integral role’ in the school, acting as strong role models and mentors for younger pupils.
- Staff feel valued, and leaders take ‘staff workload and well-being very seriously’, contributing to a positive working culture.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure all teachers have the training and support needed to develop the subject expertise required to successfully deliver the planned curriculum, as plans are ‘very occasionally’ not implemented well enough.
- Leaders should ensure that actions taken in response to reported bullying incidents are always shared with and understood by pupils, to maintain confidence in the anti-bullying process.
- The school needs to routinely analyse information from support structures at a whole-school level to identify patterns in what is working well and inform development priorities.
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 | 45.2 |
| 2024/25 | 43.1 |
| 2025/26 | 38.1 |
| 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 application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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