Ofsted: Outstanding schoolGrammar School trending_up Popular emoji_events #4 in Gloucestershire public Top 2% UK

Marling School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr Stephen Kneller

corporate_fareCOTSWOLD BEACON ACADEMY TRUST

location_onStroud, GL5 4HE

language Visit Website phone 1453762251

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

1,230

trending_up

Attainment 8

73.9

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#4 in Gloucestershire

#71 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Marling School is a Academy converter secondary school in Stroud, serving ages 11-18. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade. Demand is above capacity (1.3×) — apply through your local authority on time.

article

School Summary

Marling School is an academy converter in Stroud, Gloucestershire, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of COTSWOLD BEACON ACADEMY TRUST. The school has approximately 1,117 pupils on roll, of whom 4% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 73.9, placing the school #4 in Gloucestershire and #71 of 3,216 nationally. 98.10% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 68.2% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 28 A-level subjects. 65.5% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 30.8% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.1 — sixth-form progress was broadly average.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.3× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 18.5:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.7 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

73.9

Grade 5+ E&M

98.10%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)68.2%

Entering EBacc40.90%

EBacc APS6.58

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.64

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

71.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc39.50%

EBacc APS6.36

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.50

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

68.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc39%

EBacc APS6.02

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.4

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

71.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc41%

EBacc APS6.39

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc58%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.42

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

69.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc68%

EBacc APS6.43

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.56

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

70.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc67%

EBacc APS6.5

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

99%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)97%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)0%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

98%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)98%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

99%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)99%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

99%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)97%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

98%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)97%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

-0.1

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

Students

191

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*8.1%

Achieving A*–A30.8%

Achieving A*–B65.5%

VA Banding Below average

Retention rate96.9%

A-level subjects offered28

2024

A-Level Value Added

+0.04

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

Students

205

Retention rate98.00%

2023

Avg Grade

B-

Students

236

Retention rate97.50%

2022

Avg Grade

Students

187

Retention rate98.9%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

19 November 2024

Inspection Report

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12 November 2013

Inspection Report

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14 February 2012

Inspection Report

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28 November 2011

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2024-11-19

S5 Inspection EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2013-11-12

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2010-12-08

None EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

0.8%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.8%(9 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,117 pupils. During this period, there were 9 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.8%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,117	9	0.8%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,115	6	0.5%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,176	11	0.9%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,181	7	0.6%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,182	13	1.1%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,231	14	1.1%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,230	13	1.1%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,237	9	0.7%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,211	18	1.5%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,214	9	0.7%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,212	12	1.0%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,165	19	1.6%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,168	5	0.4%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,167	20	1.7%	3.9%	1
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,061	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,061	11	1.0%	3.2%	1
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,061	15	1.4%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	967	13	1.3%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	968	7	0.7%	3.8%	1
2018/19 (Autumn term)	964	17	1.8%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	967	10	1.0%	3.4%	1
2017/18 (Spring term)	969	9	0.9%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	971	11	1.1%	3.7%	1
2016/17 (Summer term)	931	10	1.1%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	936	14	1.5%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	938	8	0.9%	3.1%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 19 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 17 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 5 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 4 pupils

Visual Impairment 2 pupils

Physical Disability 2 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 1 pupils

Multi-Sensory Impairment 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

87.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

94.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

12.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree35%

agree50%

disagree9%

strongly disagree4%

don't know2%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree20%

agree44%

disagree26%

strongly disagree7%

don't know3%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree22%

agree24%

disagree12%

strongly disagree7%

don't know3%

not applicable32%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes13%

no87%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree28%

agree30%

disagree26%

strongly disagree14%

dont know2%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree49%

agree37%

disagree7%

strongly disagree2%

don't know5%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree45%

agree41%

disagree8%

strongly disagree2%

don't know4%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree25%

agree51%

disagree14%

strongly disagree5%

don't know5%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree44%

agree49%

disagree4%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree38%

agree50%

disagree7%

strongly disagree3%

don't know3%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree29%

agree43%

disagree13%

strongly disagree6%

don't know9%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes78%

no22%

Top Secondary Schools in Gloucestershire

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Pate's Grammar School

Outstanding

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Good

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Outstanding

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The Crypt School

Outstanding

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Denmark Road High School

Good

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Good

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View all schools in Gloucestershire arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Selective Admission (Grammar)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Gloucestershire

Pate's Grammar School

Sir Thomas Rich's School

Stroud High School

The Crypt School

Denmark Road High School

Ribston Hall High School