Schools by area › Shropshire › The Marches School
The Marches School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy
Morda Road, Oswestry SY11 2AR · marchesschool.co.uk · 01691 664400
On the mapSearch near SY11 2AR
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Sept 2023
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 43.1
- average Attainment 8 score. Shropshire 42.5, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,346
- 90% of 1,500 places
- Local authority
- Shropshire
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 20.1%
- First language not English
- 10.3%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 197 families put the school first and 204 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 204 | 197 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 191 | 191 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 237 | 208 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 183 | 167 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 218 | 216 | 1 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 43.1, and 38.5% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Shropshire it was 42.5, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C+ (33.4 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼43.1 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼38.5% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼61.9% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲52.5% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.87 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 38.5 | −1.9 |
| Sixth form college | 13.4 | +4.7 |
| Further education | 21.8 | −8.5 |
| Other education | 1.3 | +0.8 |
| Apprenticeship | 2.9 | +0.1 |
| Employment | 5 | −1 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 9.6 | +1.8 |
| Activity not captured | 7.5 | +3.8 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 85 students | C+ (33.4) | Average +0.11 | |
| 85 students | C+ (33.7) | Average +0.11 | |
| 20 students | Merit+ (28) | Average -0.10 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 92 | C+ (34.7) | +0.03 |
| 2022/23 | 94 | C (29.4) | — |
| 2021/22 | 96 | B- (35.5) | — |
| 2018/19 | 71 | B- (36.2) | +0.16 |
| 2017/18 | 76 | C+ (34.5) | +0.22 |
| 2016/17 | 79 | C (30.4) | -0.20 |
| 2015/16 | 53 | C (28.5) | +0.15 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 58.2 | +7.7 |
| Apprenticeship | 4.1 | +1 |
| Employment | 26.5 | −10.6 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 7.1 | +3 |
| Activity not captured | 4.1 | +1 |
Ofsted
The Marches School was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 26 September 2023, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 26 Sept 2023
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth form | Good |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Jan 2014
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Mar 2018Monitoring visit
Safeguarding Effective Jan 2014Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Sept 2010Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Outstanding
What parents said
64% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (160 replies, to 2 September 2024).
- Recommend
- 64%
- Replies
- 160
- 2 Sept 2024
based on the 82% who raised concerns
based on the 51% who had a child bullied
based on 30 parents (19%) with SEND