Mary Webb School and Science College
108%
Capacity
654
Pupils
1.6x
Demand
About Mary Webb School and Science College
Mary Webb School and Science College is clearly a popular choice among local families. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 203 applications for 124 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.64. Of those, 117 were first-preference applications, and 117 first-preference offers were made, meaning every family who put it first secured a spot. This suggests strong but not unmanageable demand, and the school is oversubscribed overall. While the data doesn't include a parent recommendation percentage, the high number of first-preference applications is a solid signal that families who know the school well are keen to send their children there. The school is a mixed, non-denominational secondary for ages 11 to 16, with no sixth form, so pupils move on elsewhere after Year 11. It has a Good rating from Ofsted following its most recent graded inspection in 2023, with Good marks across all categories including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.
Academically, Mary Webb performs well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.08 is significantly higher than the Shropshire local authority average of -0.37, meaning pupils here make more progress than their peers in other schools across the county. The school ranks 4th out of 19 secondary schools in Shropshire on this measure, placing it in the top quarter locally. Attainment 8 sits at 47.9, and 66.1% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, with 43.8% reaching grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score is 4.08, though only 28.9% of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects. Progress in English and open subjects is positive, while maths progress is slightly negative at -0.31. Nationally, the school sits in the 43rd percentile for Progress 8, which is broadly average, but in the context of Shropshire it is a strong performer.
The school is well equipped with facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, theatre, sports hall, and science labs, plus a chapel on site. Sports offered include rowing, tennis, and swimming, and there is a wide range of clubs from coding and Model UN to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and Young Enterprise. SEND provision covers a broad spectrum, including support for dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. With 20.6% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. Mary Webb is a good fit for families in Shropshire who want a solid, Good-rated secondary with strong academic progress relative to the local area, a broad extracurricular offer, and a manageable commute from surrounding villages and towns. The lack of a sixth form means parents will need to plan for post-16 options elsewhere.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Pontesbury, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY5 0TG |
| Headteacher | Peter Lowe - Werrell |
| Local Authority | Shropshire |
| Number of Pupils | 654 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 20.6% |
| School Capacity | 654 / 604 (108% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
7 Jun 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 19 Jul 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.08)
1353rd of 3,141
Nationally
135th of 371
In West Midlands
4th of 19
In Shropshire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/231%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 109 pupils).
- Sixth form college70%
- FE college11%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Employment6%
- Not sustained4%
- School sixth form (stay)1%
95% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed124
203
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
117 families put this school as their 1st choice (58% 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 half 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British89.0%
- White (other)4.7%
- Mixed3.1%
- Asian1.3%
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
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
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
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
2
Total schools
2
Oversubscribed
1
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Mary Webb School and Science College
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Pontesbury, Shrewsbury
Shropshire, SY5 0TG
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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