Classpot

The Marches School

Shropshire, SY11 2ARSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Sep 2023
Progress 8
-0.29
Below average
−20+2
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
191 1st-choice / 191 places
Ranking
#2,233
of 3,141 nationally

About The Marches School

The Marches School in Shropshire is a popular choice among local families, with 191 first-preference applications for 191 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, meaning every family who put it first secured a spot. The school was oversubscribed overall, receiving 243 applications for those 191 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.27. This level of demand suggests a solid reputation in the community, though Ofsted’s most recent inspection in 2023 rated the school Good across the board, including for behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. The previous inspection in 2013 also rated it Good, so the school has maintained a consistent standard over time. With 1,396 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,500, there is still some room for growth, but the oversubscription indicates that many families see it as a strong local option.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressMorda Road, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY11 2AR
HeadteacherSally Wilmot
Local AuthorityShropshire
Number of Pupils1,396
Free School Meals (FSM)20.5%
School Capacity1,396 / 1,500 (93% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, 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

26 Sept 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 19 Nov 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
LibraryICT SuiteSports HallArt StudiosMusic RoomsPlaying FieldsChapelSixth Form Centre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

12

Sports

Cross CountryTennisFootballHockeyRoundersBasketball

Clubs & Activities

Film ClubDramaDebateYoung EnterpriseDuke of EdinburghChoir

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionMulti-SensoryOther

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:40 – 15:05

Source: marchesschool.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Marches School

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