Ofsted: Good trending_up Popular emoji_events #60 in Lancashire public Top 36% UK

Marsden Heights Community College

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

personMiss Alyson Littlewood

corporate_fareUNITED LEARNING TRUST

location_onNelson, BB9 0PR

language Visit Website phone 1282683060

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

1,046

trending_up

Attainment 8

40.3

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GCSE Rank

#58 in Lancashire

#2,500 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Marsden Heights Community College is a Academy sponsor led secondary school in Nelson, serving ages 11-16. Rated Good by Ofsted. Demand is above capacity (1.0×) — apply through your local authority on time.

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School Summary

Marsden Heights Community College is an academy sponsor led in Nelson, Lancashire, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of UNITED LEARNING TRUST. The school has approximately 1,048 pupils on roll, of whom 33% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 40.3, placing the school #58 in Lancashire and #2,500 of 3,216 nationally. 33.30% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 7.7% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Good. 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 1.0× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 25.1:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 3.8 per 1,000 pupils per term.

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

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

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Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

40.3

Grade 5+ E&M

33.30%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)7.7%

Entering EBacc15.70%

EBacc APS3.35

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.14

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

40.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc18.50%

EBacc APS3.44

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.10

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

41.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc18%

EBacc APS3.51

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.18

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

43.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc24%

EBacc APS3.62

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

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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

90%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)88%

Apprenticeships1%

EmploymentSP%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)92%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

03 October 2023

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2023-10-03

Academy First Section 5 EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2019-01-30

Special Measures S5 ReInspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2016-12-06

None EIF

Inadequate

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Inadequate

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

3.2%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

2.9%(30 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 1,048 pupils. During this period, there were 34 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 3.2%, 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)	1,048	34	3.2%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,050	45	4.3%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,047	54	5.2%	7.4%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,037	60	5.8%	7.1%	1
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,041	24	2.3%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,048	11	1.0%	6.6%	2
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,046	11	1.1%	6.4%	1
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,029	41	4.0%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,051	79	7.5%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,048	79	7.5%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,047	31	3.0%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,054	48	4.6%	3.6%	1
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,052	15	1.4%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	0	26	-	3.9%	0

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

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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.

Moderate Learning Difficulty 59 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 57 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 47 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 17 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 14 pupils

Hearing Impairment 6 pupils

Visual Impairment 4 pupils

Physical Disability 3 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 2 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.

96.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

96.0%Positive

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

24.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree44%

agree56%

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

strongly agree36%

agree60%

strongly disagree4%

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

strongly agree24%

agree48%

disagree4%

not applicable24%

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.

strongly agree32%

agree64%

don't know4%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree28%

agree64%

don't know8%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree28%

agree68%

disagree4%

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

strongly agree28%

agree72%

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

strongly agree16%

agree68%

disagree12%

don't know4%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree24%

agree68%

disagree4%

don't know4%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes92%

no8%

Top Secondary Schools in Lancashire

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Clitheroe Royal Grammar School

Outstanding

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Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School

Inadequate

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Lancaster Girls' Grammar School

Good

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Lancaster Royal Grammar School

Good

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Bishop Rawstorne Church of England Academy

Good

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Broughton High School

Outstanding

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View all schools in Lancashire arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

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.

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 Lancashire

Clitheroe Royal Grammar School

Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School

Lancaster Girls' Grammar School

Lancaster Royal Grammar School

Bishop Rawstorne Church of England Academy

Broughton High School