Marling School
Cainscross Road, Stroud, GL5 4HEOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Marling School is a secondary school in Stroud for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 329 schools in Gloucestershire. It ranks 2nd of 4 secondary schools in Stroud. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 19 November 2024, report published 19 December 2024
This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Sixth form provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 19 November 2024
The school has high expectations of its pupils and students. Pupils and students uphold the school motto of 'let us go forward through study to character'. They are positive about their learning. Pupils especially enjoy debate and discussion. They are curious and apply their learning with careful thought. Pupils and students in the sixth form achieve high outcomes. Pupils are polite and courteous. Students in the sixth form respectfully welcome the girls who join the school in Year 12. Pupils value the friendly relationships between one another. If pupils have a worry, the pastoral team supports them to manage their concerns. The school plan enriching experiences throughout school life. Local and international trips and visiting speakers enhance the learning of pupils. For example, a visiting string quartet work with pupils on their compositions. Sixth-form students run clubs for younger pupils. Pupils participate in an array of enrichment activities. These include clubs such as learning Japanese, fencing or dissection with the medical society. Sixth-form students lead pupils in discussing school matters. They encourage pupils to share their ideas to improve the school. The school is developing greater opportunities for leadership in the lower years. Eco leaders and members of the school council contribute to developing the school.
What the school should improve
- Some aspects of the key stage 3 curriculum are newly designed or re-sequenced. This means staff are becoming familiar with the revised subject content and its implementation. The trust needs to make sure the new content is well embedded.
- The school does not ensure that there are strong lines of communication with key stakeholders. As a result, parents, pupils and staff express frustration about the lack of communication they receive about important information. The school has recently introduced new mechanisms for communication, but these are in the early stages of use. The trust needs to ensure that communication between school and stakeholders is responsive and timely.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
159 pupils in the year group
A level results (key stage 5), 2024/25
189 students
Average A level grade B, England average B-
Pupil numbers and mix
1,082 pupils on roll, with places for 1,150
Schools near Marling School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stroud High School | 0.1 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | Attainment 8: 76.9 |
| Archway School | 0.4 miles | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | Attainment 8: 43.3 |
| Wycliffe College | 2 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 35.1 |
| Maidenhill School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 45.5 |
| Thomas Keble School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 47.6 |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- LIFT SCHOOLS
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Gender
- Boys
- Admissions
- Selective
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mr Peter Knight
- Phone
- 01453762251
- Address
- Cainscross Road, Stroud, GL5 4HE
- Local authority
- Gloucestershire
- URN
- 137123
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.