Little Marlow CofE School
30%
Capacity
27
Pupils
8.8x
Demand
About Little Marlow CofE School
Little Marlow CofE School is a tiny Church of England primary for children aged 4 to 7, and its academic picture is best understood by looking at what comes next. The school itself doesn't publish Key Stage 2 results because its pupils leave at age 7, before those tests are taken. However, the local authority average for Key Stage 2 attainment across Buckinghamshire primary schools is 64, a benchmark that gives context to the school's feeder reputation. What stands out immediately is the sheer demand for these 6 reception places: the school received 53 applications for the 2025/26 intake, making it heavily oversubscribed with an oversubscription ratio of 8.83. That level of competition suggests local parents see this infant school as a strong foundation, even though its own headline metrics are limited by its age range.
Academically, the most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2024 rated the school Good overall, with two standout areas judged Outstanding: personal development, and behaviour and attitudes. The early years provision was also rated Good, consistent with the previous inspection in 2015. Leadership and management and the quality of education both received Good grades. This is a school that has held a Good rating across both its recent inspections, with no decline in any category. The previous inspection gave early years provision a grade 2 (Good), and the current inspection confirms the same, so consistency is a theme. With only 27 pupils on roll against a capacity of 90, the school is operating well below capacity, yet demand for places is intense — a curious mismatch that likely reflects the school's reputation for strong personal development and behaviour, rather than raw test scores.
The school offers a range of facilities including a library, music rooms, a sports hall, playing fields, and a chapel, which is notable for such a small infant school. Sports include football, swimming, cross country, and rounders, and there are clubs like film, book, science, art, and coding. SEND provisions cover social, emotional and mental health support, and physical disability. The school is Church of England but does not have a nursery or sixth form. With only 5 first-preference offers made from 5 first-preference applications, it is effectively a first-choice school for those who get in. This is a school for families who value a small, community-focused infant setting with strong pastoral care and a clear Christian character, and who are prepared to compete hard for a place.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 4 to 7 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | School Lane, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, SL7 3SA |
| Headteacher | Kirsten Harjette |
| Local Authority | Buckinghamshire |
| Number of Pupils | 27 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 3.7% |
| School Capacity | 27 / 90 (30% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
11 Jul 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 22 Sept 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
9Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed6
53
Extremely High Demand
Very competitive - significantly more applications than places
5 families put this school as their 1st choice (9% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British74.1%
- White (other)11.1%
- Mixed7.4%
- Asian3.7%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
3.78 kmstraight line
Green ring on the map shows the effective catchment for 2024/25. Check your address below.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
2
Total schools
2
Oversubscribed
2
Primary
Cutoff distances vary year to year and apply only to applicants who reach the distance criterion. Faith, sibling, and SEND priorities take precedence.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Little Marlow CofE School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
School Lane, Marlow
Buckinghamshire, SL7 3SA
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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