North Marston Church of England School

About North Marston Church of England School

North Marston Church of England School was rated Good overall in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, with inspectors singling out the early years provision as Outstanding. The school’s most telling academic metric is the Key Stage 2 combined reading, writing and maths expected standard: just 50% of pupils reached that benchmark in the 2023/24 academic year. That figure sits well below the Buckinghamshire local authority average of 64%, and it places the school 114th out of 137 primary schools in the county. In the wider South East region, North Marston ranks in the bottom quarter of similar schools, and nationally it falls around the 78th percentile. The school’s Progress 8 scores are not available, so it’s hard to say how much value the school adds on top of pupils’ starting points, but the raw attainment data suggests that academic outcomes here are a significant concern for parents.

Looking more closely at the breakdown, reading is the strongest subject: 73% of pupils reached the expected standard, and the average scaled score was 104. Writing followed at 80% expected, with 20% reaching the higher standard. Maths was weaker, with only 55% at the expected level and an average score of 102. No pupils achieved the higher standard in all three subjects combined. The school’s ranking score of 50 places it in the bottom 50% nationally, and its closest competitors in the local authority — Ickford School, Frieth Church of England Combined School and Elangeni School — all scored significantly higher. For parents prioritising strong academic results, North Marston’s data is a clear red flag, though the small cohort size of 93 pupils means that a handful of children can swing percentages noticeably.

On the practical side, the school is heavily oversubscribed: for 11 places in the 2025/26 intake, it received 32 applications, with 10 first-preference offers made, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.91. That suggests strong local demand despite the middling results. Facilities include a library, ICT suite, art studios, a forest school, a sensory room and a chapel, and the school offers a decent range of sports and clubs, from athletics and swimming to coding and eco club. SEND provision covers specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, social and emotional mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. With a Church of England character and a headteacher in Sarah Brew, this is a small village primary that will suit families who value a broad, inclusive environment and a strong early years start, but who are prepared to supplement academic support at home.

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