School Prospectus - The Marlborough School

Church of England Voluntary Controlled.
A Specialist School for Business, Enterprise and Humanities.
The Marlborough School

“The Marlborough Church of England School
is a good school. It has many outstanding
features. Students achieve well and reach
above average standards in their work.”
(Ofsted 2009)

F R O M T H E H E A D T E A C H E R
The school you choose for your child will help to shape his/her future. We aim to
work in partnership with parents and carers to ensure that every young person in our
school makes the best possible progress, is ambitious for the future and is given the
opportunity to explore a wide range of extracurricular activities to enrich the school
experience. The Marlborough is a school where the breadth of our offer of academic,
cultural and sporting activities ensures that every young person can experience success.
As Head Teacher, I am only too aware of the responsibility I share with you when you
entrust the education and development of your child to the care of our school. I can
state with confidence that we strive to ensure that all young people will enjoy their
education and achieve their best.
At The Marlborough School young people thrive, make new and lasting friendships and
learn to work together in a community where their opinions are valued, their successes
celebrated and their progress and well-being are our first concern. Our students
achieve high standards in their GCSE and A level examinations and we are rightly proud
of them. We are equally proud of the enormous range of wider achievements of our
young people, in sport, citizenship, the creative arts and in their personal development,
all of which are celebrated in our end of year Awards Assemblies.
Our 2009 Ofsted report judged our school to be ‘a good school with many outstanding
features’ and the team was extremely complimentary about the lively, warm and
supportive atmosphere in the school and the confidence and politeness of pupils.
We believe that listening to students and parents about the kind of school and
education that they want is important and is one of the reasons that we are such a
successful school. We welcome feedback which we use as an important aspect of
our self-evaluation process so that we can continue to improve provision for pupils.
The Marlborough School encourages the development of supportive relationships
between students and teachers and teachers and parents. We have a very strong
personal development curriculum as well as an exciting and innovative academic
curriculum which was judged to be
‘outstanding’ by the Ofsted team as was
the personal development of our pupils.
“inspiring
young people
to learn and
achieve.”
We are very privileged to be located in
Woodstock and to benefit from strong links with
our local community, which benefit our school
and its pupils. We are members of the ‘Wake
up to Woodstock’ business group, participate in
the Woodstock Literary Festival and the Art in
Woodstock week, have strong links with
Blenheim Estates, through its education service,
and with the County Museum in Woodstock.
We are involved in the Woodstock 900 celebrations and invite a range of local
businesses and organisations to our Business Breakfasts that we organise as one of our
Specialist School activities. Community is very important to us and we are very proud
of our engagement with local organisations and the sense of community that we foster
within The Marlborough School.
We look forward to welcoming you to our School.
Julie Fenn, Head Teacher

Personal, social
spiritual develo

“Students enjoy their education, have
excellent attitudes to learning, and
feel that the school provides a safe
and caring environment.”
(Ofsted 2009)
“The students’ spiritual, moral, social
and cultural development is excellent.”
(Ofsted 2009)
Every child matters at The Marlborough School. The development of young people is at the heart of
everything we do. Alongside the academic curriculum, students follow a personal development curriculum.
It aims to promote personal qualities, skills, knowledge, understanding, attitudes and values, all of which
enable young people to make informed and healthy choices and to take responsibility for their actions.
and
Parallel to this is the aim to enable every student to contribute
positively to their local community and the wider world.
The first element is the Personal, Social and Health Education
curriculum programme and Citizenship entitlement,
delivered by tutors to all students. The second dimension
pment
includes focus days, work experience, collective worship
and our unique Electives Programme.
Student voice is encouraged. Most staff applying for jobs
are interviewed by a student panel, and each Year Group
is represented on the School
Council, ‘Marlborough Voice Heard’. Students’ input into ensuring a secure
and purposeful learning environment, and their contribution towards the
school community, is highly valued.
Students’ development is further facilitated through a bi-annual Personal
Learning Tutorial with their Form Tutor, as well as more focused coaching,
counselling and peer and adult mentoring. Using links made through our
Business and Enterprise status, students have benefited from mentors
working in a range of professions.

Learning
Our commitment to high quality teaching and
learning in a secure and supportive environment
is paramount. As an inclusive comprehensive
school we are committed to meeting the
educational needs of students of all abilities and talents. All students, therefore, follow a broad and balanced
curriculum which complies with the National Curriculum, and includes Citizenship and PHSE.
At Key Stage 3 students are largely taught in Tutor Groups. Tutor Groups are carefully constructed to
ensure a range of ability, friendship groups and individual talents. There is close liaison between The
Marlborough School and feeder primary schools to ascertain the specific learning needs of students on
transfer. In some subjects, groupings are determined by subject departments. Changes to a student’s
teaching group is always carefully considered and parents will be informed.
Towards the end of Year 9 students are guided in making their Key Stage 4 course choices. Students opt for
GCSE courses, or a mixed package of GCSEs and vocational courses. Our aim is to enable every student to
build a combination of subjects in which they genuinely wish to achieve a qualification. Specific provision can
be made for students to learn at college or other institutions offering recognised vocational courses, and for
some this may involve an element of work experience.
At Key Stage 5 a wide range of A and AS level courses is offered as well as Applied A levels and some
GCSEs. Full details of these courses can be obtained from the Sixth Form Prospectus.
The school’s aim is to provide in-class support for students who encounter difficulties in particular areas
of the curriculum. This includes those who have problems with literacy or numeracy skills as well as
those who have other specific learning difficulties. The Ormerod Department provides high level
specialist support for students with physical disabilities, language and communication difficulties, and
those on the autistic spectrum. A wide range of further support is offered to students through
school-based external agencies.

& curriculum
“Students in all years achieve well,
because they are taught well.
The curriculum is outstanding. Students
are offered a very wide choice of subjects
and it is well designed to meet the needs
of all students. Curriculum development
has been enterprising and innovative.”
(Ofsted 2009)

“The school is a lively
and enterprising place
to study and work.”
(Ofsted 2009)

Enterprise
Developing skills for life
Our aim to enhance learning opportunities for our school and community is being increasingly
realised as a result of the benefits of our Specialist Status.
Specialist Status
As a Specialist School in Business and Enterprise, and Humanities, The Marlborough School is able to
operate as a core provider and central hub of enterprise development in the Woodstock area. The new
Marlborough Enterprise Centre enables the school to offer a fully resourced, modern conference facility,
which is also a leading edge performance venue for dance, drama, music and film. It is also an ideal venue
for promoting the creativity of our students, and for hosting events for partnership schools.
Our links with business partners have led to an enhanced offer for students consisting of a range of
enrichment and extension experiences which develop enterprise skills such as teamwork, risk-taking and
leadership, and foster enterprising attitudes and skills which will benefit students in continuing education
and the workplace. Our Humanities Specialism is led by the English Department, which means students
have access to a range of applied English experiences in the business and the creative sector, and which
has enabled us to host authors during the Woodstock Literary Festival.
The Woodstock Partnership
The aim of this partnership is to provide the best possible education for students aged between 3 and 19
years. It involves governors, head teachers, teachers, parents and students in strengthening curriculum
and community links. At its core is the aim to ensure continuity and progression between Key Stage 2
and Key Stage 3, and to ease the transition for students between primary school and secondary school.
International Partnerships
The school enjoys a thriving and extending range of international partnerships. A student exchange
programme operates with partner schools in France and Germany. The international Comenius Project
links students at The Marlborough School with students in five other European Countries, including
Austria, Belgium and Sweden.

We aim to provide an environment which nurtures the gifts and talents of students and which enables
them to make good progress in their subject curriculum as well as in their personal, social and spiritual
development. We value the contribution made towards students’ success by parents and carers, and
recognise that their knowledge and understanding of their children can help us in guiding young people
towards success.
Parents with children transferring to The Marlborough School from partner primary schools will get to
know the school and key staff during transfer days. Students joining from out of catchment are invited to
attend these days or to visit the school independently. Parents are offered an opportunity to meet senior
staff and their child’s Year 7 Form Tutor in the Summer term preceding their child’s start in September.
Each student is a member of a Tutor Group. We encourage parents and students to see the Form Tutor
as the first point of contact, as the member of staff who will know that student best. Students remain
members of the same Tutor Group until they leave school.
We believe that good organisation is a key factor for students to achieve success at school. Students are
provided with a Student Planner in Year 7 and expected to purchase it in following years. The planner is
designed for students to record homework and other
important information, including their timetables,
Parents
learning targets, and homework and coursework deadlines.
It also functions as a means of communication between
parents and staff, and is where students record awards
and staff commendations.
Correct school equipment is vital too. A list of basic equipment can be
found in the back of this prospectus. We encourage parents and carers to
provide school equipment and we can assist in cases of financial hardship.
Parents and carers should also provide children with suitable space at
home to complete homework.
Students’ progress is reported to parents twice a year – once through a
Form Tutor evening and once through a Subject Teacher evening. Form Tutor
evenings are preceded by interim reports which
assess current progress and highlight any difficulties.
Subject Teacher evenings are preceded by full
written subject reports giving detailed information
on current progress and targets for improvement
in individual subjects.

as Partners
“The vast majority of the parents who
responded to the inspection questionnaire
were lavish in their praise of the school.”
(Ofsted 2009)

“Students are offered excellent opportunities to involve
themselves in extracurricular and enrichment activities,
and the elective programme, which provides for personal,
social and health education, effectively supports the high
quality of work undertaken in promoting the students’
personal and social development.”
(Ofsted 2009)

Enrichment
Developing the individual
Our commitment to the personal development of young people is at the heart of our enrichment and
extracurricular opportunities. We carefully plan a minimum extracurricular entitlement for all students
and encourage their participation in clubs or activities which develop their skills and talents.
Electives
The school’s Elective Programme spearheads the enrichment and extension of the curriculum. This is
a coordinated programme of wide-ranging activities designed as an extension to the main curriculum
programme. All students in Years 7-11 are entitled to this unique programme which takes place on
Wednesday afternoons.
The Year 7 Electives Programme cycle operates alongside the existing curriculum and consists of:
• Developing ICT Skills • Scientific Enquiry • Citizenship Education • Outdoor Education • Drama
Students make their own choices from Year 8 onwards. They are expected to choose one curriculum
enrichment elective (e.g. Italian or Electronics), one citizenship elective (e.g. Global Schools or Charity
Enterprise) and one personal leisure elective (e.g. ice skating or sailing). Students in Key Stage 4 can
use the Elective Programme to help manage the pressures of academic study by opting for the
Coursework Elective. Students embarking on Duke of Edinburgh Award expeditions use Electives time
to prepare themselves. An Electives Brochure is produced annually detailing the full offer from which
students make their choices.
Home and Overseas Visits
Students can expect an exciting offer of residential visits as well as day trips to supplement and extend
their study. In Year 7, students enjoy team building days, in Year 8 they are
offered residential visits at Yenworthy and Kilvrough activity centres. Study
tours are planned as integral curriculum enrichment and include fieldwork,
museum and gallery visits, theatre visits and sporting experiences.
Foreign visits include a Somme Battlefields Tour for Year 9 students, a
bi-ennial European Choir Tour and visits linked to the Comenius Project.
A wide range of further visits occurs during the school year.
The School runs a thriving Duke of Edinburgh
programme for Years 10-13.

Sport
The school enjoys an impressive record in competitive sports, both locally and nationally. Year 7 and
Year 8 students have competed in the National Emerging Schools Rugby finals at Twickenham, and
particular success is enjoyed in girls and boys football. Alongside competitions, opportunities exist for
students to develop their sport in high level coaching sessions at county level and visits to international
matches, Wimbledon and sports academies. The extent of the sport and fitness offer is significantly
increased through the Electives Programme, including golf, sailing and squash. The school enjoys
dedicated access to Woodstock swimming pool, extensive playing fields, new tennis courts and a
newly refurbished sports hall.
Music
We recognise that music for most students will be an interesting and enjoyable activity, but for some
it will be a serious academic discipline. The range of provision reflects this variety of aspiration.
Instrumental tuition is available through the County Music Service as well as private tutors in an
extensive range of instruments. Ensembles include a four part choir which regularly tours Europe,
a Jazz ensemble for more experienced players, the FBI (Fiddles and bass instrumentalists) and
orchestra. EGO (Electric Guitar Orchestra) opened the Woodstock Festival, and this year sees
the launch of the Motown Choir and Year 7 Samba group. We also
Sport,
encourage students to form bands, make recordings and to pursue
their particular musical enthusiasms.
Drama
Drama at The Marlborough School has long been established and offers
many opportunities for students to participate, whether as actors,
technicians, designers, or stage crew. Every other year the school produces a major show, and
has a well-established annual Shakespeare Festival which involves our primary school partners.
The new Marlborough Enterprise Centre is equipped with impressive sound and lighting
technology which provides an ideal performance venue for large scale and studio productions.

“Behaviour is good, and often exemplary.”
(Ofsted 2009)
music & drama

“The Sixth Form provides a good education...
characterised by some outstanding features.
Sixth Form students make excellent role
models for younger students, and they
play an integral part in school life, adding
to the vibrancy of the school.”
(Ofsted 2009)

Sixth Form
We aim to ensure that our Sixth Form students achieve at the highest levels in all areas of the curriculum
and maximise their potential before embarking upon the next phase of their lives.
Students enjoy considerable academic success in the Marlborough Sixth Form, and an expanding range
of subjects and courses means students can design a diverse and personalised curriculum which meets
their needs and aspirations. A purpose-built Sixth Form Centre incorporates study facilities including ICT,
a common room and seminar rooms. There is a dedicated section of the School Library and a conservatory
lounge attached to the dining hall for use by Sixth Form students, as well as a Sixth Form garden.
Sixth Form students make a positive and enterprising contribution towards the school and wider community
through involvement in school counselling, lesson attachments, supporting the electives programme,
buddying and mentoring. A vibrant programme of enrichment includes educational visits, sport, music and
drama, as well as service and leadership activities. These ensure all students have opportunities to extend
their skills and experiences.
An annually published Sixth Form Brochure provides fuller details of courses, the tutorial system and
Sixth Form life, and is available from the school.

Extracurricular
Activities
The vibrant and lively range of extracurricular activities offered to students is a feature of life at
The Marlborough School. Staff constantly seek to bring learning to life and to extend the experiences
offered to students. The activities inevitably change over time, but our commitment to extracurricular
activities is firm. The activities contribute towards students’ academic and personal growth as well as
to the Every Child Matters agenda.
Exchange visits to partner schools in France and Germany are well established; we recently celebrated
the twentieth anniversary of our German exchange. Strong links through the exchanges has led to
other activities such as students competing in the Cologne Marathon and
visits to Christmas Markets.
Students are encouraged to apply their learning to ‘real-life’ contexts.
Our team frequently enjoy success in the Jaguar Cars Maths in Motion
Challenge, and have won regional recognition in the Young Enterprise
Competition. Our Media Studies students have regularly won awards for
their films and documentaries. Our Art Department enjoys strong links
with the community, contributing to the Woodstock Carnival, local art
projects and pupils’ work is exhibited locally. In conjunction with the Oxford Business Education
Alliance, students have had a range of business-context opportunities, such as a recent in events
management projects at Le Manior aux Quat’Saisons.
The strong School council, Marlborough Voice Heard (MVH) has spearheaded improvements
both to the school environment and to its ethos. Nearly half of our students have served on MVH.
A fuller picture of extracurricular events
and achievements is provided through
The Marlborough News which is published
three times a year or visit our website:
www.marlborough.oxon.sch.uk

“Students’ personal development is
outstanding because of the excellent
opportunities offered by the curriculum,
and the effective care, support and
guidance provided by the school.”
(Ofsted 2009)

Head Teacher:
Mrs Julie Fenn, BA, NPQH
Shipton Road
Woodstock
Oxon OX20 1LP
T: 01993 811431
F: 01993 813530
E: admin.4560@marlborough.oxon.sch.uk
Business & Enterprise:
E: sjw7023@marlborough.oxon.sch.uk
www.marlborough.oxon.sch.uk