Classpot

Marling School

Stroud, GL5 4HESecondaryAges 11–18BoysState
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted inspected
5 Good
Nov 2024
Progress 8
+0.64
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
149 1st-choice / 150 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#338 of 3,141 nationally

About Marling School

Marling School is a boys’ secondary school in Stroud that is running very close to full capacity, with 1,117 pupils on roll against a published capacity of 1,150. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 4.1 per cent, well below the national average, reflecting the relatively affluent catchment. Demand for places is strong: for entry in 2025/26, the school received 410 applications for 150 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.73. Of those, 149 were first-preference applications, and 108 first-preference offers were made. The school is selective in practice, though not by formal academic entry test, and its intake profile suggests a largely middle-class, high-attaining cohort. Acting Principal Duncan Cook leads a school that has held a Good rating from Ofsted since its most recent graded inspection in November 2024, having previously been rated Outstanding in 2013. The school is a single-sex state school with a co-educational sixth form, and it sits just 0.2 km from Stroud High School, the nearest Outstanding-rated school in the area.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderBoys
Religious CharacterNone
AddressCainscross Road, Stroud, Stroud, GL5 4HE
HeadteacherDuncan Cook (acting Principal)
Local AuthorityGloucestershire
Number of Pupils1,117
Free School Meals (FSM)4.1%
School Capacity1,117 / 1,150 (97% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

What 434 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

19 Nov 2024
View Report
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.

Source: Ofsted, 19 Dec 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

10
Astro TurfSwimming PoolGymnasiumTheatreICT SuiteSixth Form CentreArt StudiosMusic RoomsDining HallPlaying Fields

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

17

Sports

FootballHockeyCross CountryGymnasticsSwimmingRoundersRowingRugby

Clubs & Activities

DramaArt ClubChessDuke of EdinburghCodingModel United NationsGardeningOrchestraYoung Enterprise

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageVisionPhysicalOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:55 – 15:15

Source: marling.gloucs.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Marling School

Marling School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.