Marlborough Primary School

About Marlborough Primary School

Marlborough Primary School in Sunderland has been rated Good by Ofsted following its most recent inspection in March 2025, a notable improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2023. The inspection report highlights particular strengths in early years provision and personal development, both of which were judged Outstanding. Behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and the quality of education all received Good ratings. On the key academic metric for primary schools, 63% of Marlborough’s Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined in the 2023/24 assessments. That figure sits just below the local authority average of 67% for Sunderland primary schools. The school’s average scaled scores were 103 in maths and 104 in reading, both close to the national benchmark of 100. In the local rankings, Marlborough placed 45th out of 73 Sunderland primary schools, placing it in the top half of the authority.

Looking more closely at the breakdown, 74% of pupils reached the expected standard in each of reading, writing and maths individually, with 21% achieving the higher standard in reading and writing, and 16% in maths. Eleven per cent of pupils reached the higher standard across all three subjects. The school’s national ranking places it around the midpoint of all primary schools in England, and 363rd out of 677 in the North East region. These results are particularly noteworthy given that 69.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, a figure well above the national average. The school has capacity for 210 pupils but currently has 151 on roll, suggesting it is operating below capacity. For the 2025/26 intake, the school was oversubscribed with 19 applications for 13 places, and all 13 first-preference applicants were offered a place, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.46.

Marlborough Primary School caters for children aged 2 to 11 and has a nursery provision on site. Facilities include an ICT suite, art studios, a sensory room, a dining hall, an outdoor playground and a chapel. Sports offered include football, cricket, netball, gymnastics, swimming and dance, while clubs range from art and eco club to coding, film club, gardening and book club. The school has identified SEND provisions for moderate learning difficulties, social emotional and mental health needs, speech language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary school is St John Boste Catholic Primary School in Washington, about 3 km away. For families in Sunderland, Marlborough offers a solid, improving option with strong early years provision and a broad range of activities, particularly suited to those who value a supportive environment with a clear focus on personal development.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Marlborough Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents