The Marches School, based in Oswestry, provides secondary education, serving pupils aged 11 to 18. The school is a academy converter and operates as a mixed school. It follows a non-selective admissions policy. It does not have a designated religious character, which may suit families looking for a non-faith school. The school also offers a sixth form, allowing students to continue into post-16 education on site.
The Marches School currently has around 1396 pupils on roll, which is about 93% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 50% boys and 50% girls. Around 20.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which gives an indication of the socio-economic mix. The school has a diverse intake across different backgrounds and needs.
Overall absence at the school is 9.8%. Persistent absence is recorded at 29%.
The majority of pupils are from a white british background (84.5%).
At its latest Ofsted inspection, the school was rated Good. This suggests the school is performing well overall. Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.
Around 93% of pupils move on to sustained destinations after Year 11. Most continue into education (81%) , including 27% who stay in school sixth forms and 34% progressing to further education , while 5% enter apprenticeships .
| Address: | Morda Road, Oswestry, SY11 2AR |
| Website: | http://marchesschool.co.uk/ |
| Telephone: | 01691664400 |
| School Type: | Academy converter |
| Education phase: | Secondary |
| Local authority: | Shropshire |
| Headteacher / Principal: | Mrs Sally Wilmot |
| Religious character: | Does not apply |
| Admissions policy: | Non-selective |
| Unique reference: | 136979 |
Ofsted inspection date: 26/09/2023
Safeguarding is effective
| Age Range: | 11 - 18 |
| Gender: | Mixed |
| School Capacity: | 1500 |
| Number of Pupils: | 1396 |
| Number of Boys: | 698 |
| Number of Girls: | 698 |
| School | England state-funded schools: | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall absence: | 9.8% | 4% |
| Persistent absence: | 29% | 8.2% |
| White British | 84.50% | 1179 |
| Other White | 8.70% | 121 |
| Other Mixed | 1.00% | 14 |
| Other (any other ethnic group) | 0.80% | 11 |
| White and Asian | 0.80% | 11 |
| African | 0.70% | 10 |
| Other Asian | 0.70% | 10 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.60% | 8 |
| Indian | 0.40% | 6 |
| Unclassified | 0.40% | 5 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.30% | 4 |
| Other Black | 0.30% | 4 |
| White and Black African | 0.20% | 3 |
| Chinese | 0.20% | 3 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.20% | 3 |
| Pakistani | 0.10% | 2 |
| Irish | 0.10% | 1 |
| Caribbean | 0.10% | 1 |
| Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage) | 0.00% | 0 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our Lady and St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy Upper Brook Street , SY11 2TG | 3out of 4 | 362 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Our Lady and St Oswald's Catholic Primary School Upper Brook Street , SY11 2TG | - not rated | 362 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Beech Grove CofE Junior School Beech Grove , SY11 2PU | - not rated | 1,466 yd | Voluntary controlled school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Morda CofE Primary School Morda , SY10 9NR | 3out of 4 | 1,470 yd | Voluntary controlled school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Oswestry Infant School Middleton Road , SY11 2LF | - not rated | 1,570 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Marches School and Technology College Morda Road , SY11 2AR | - not rated | 0 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Croeswylan School Morda Road , SY11 2AR | - not rated | 0 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| The Marches School Morda Road , SY11 2AR | 3out of 4 | 0 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Fitzalan School Upper Brook Street , SY11 2YQ | - not rated | 2,355 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Shropshire College Shrewsbury Road , SY11 4QB | - not rated | 1,719 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oswestry School Upper Brook Street , SY11 2TL | - not rated | 426 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Queen's Park School Queen's Road , SY11 2HZ | - not rated | 540 yd | Other independent special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Oswestry School Bellan House Church Street , SY11 2ST | - not rated | 665 yd | Other independent school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.