School profile

The Marlborough Science Academy

Secondary · Academy converter · St Albans, AL1 2QA

Good

Map showing The Marlborough Science Academy

Schools
Numbers on map: pupil ages
Outstanding
Good
Requires improvement
Inadequate
Not rated

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#2,242 of 3,312

Worse than 67% of schools in England

Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.

A-level 2024/25

#1,950 of 2,536

Worse than 76% of schools in England

Ranked by average points per A-level entry.

The Marlborough Science Academy Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 29 Nov 2023

Ofsted rating
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding
Sixth form provision
Outstanding
Safeguarding
Effective

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeAcademy converter
Ages11 to 18
Pupils1,337
GenderMixed
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMs Caroline Legg
TrustTHE MARLBOROUGH SCIENCE ACADEMY LIMITED
Local authorityHertfordshire
Opened01 Apr 2012
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 138042.

GCSE results

2025/26

GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.

MeasureThis schoolHertfordshireEngland
Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average.42.6, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire50.446.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.53.8%, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire71.3%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.29%, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire53.6%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.10.2%, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire18.8%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths47.8%, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire67.2%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4186--

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

A-level results

2024/25

Results for students at the end of 16 to 18 study.

MeasureThis schoolHertfordshireEngland
Average points per A-level entryA* is 60, A is 50, B is 40, C is 30, D is 20, E is 10.28.85, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire36.8235
Average A-level gradeC--
Average points, best three A-levels28.04, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire37.435.78
Average grade, best three A-levelsC---
AAB or better7.1%, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire19%17.5%
A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average.-0.09, similar to England--
A-level progressAverage, similar to England--
Students at the end of 16 to 18 study120--
Average applied general gradeVocational qualifications, such as BTECs.Merit--

Source: DfE, 16 to 19 performance, Academic year 2024/25, published 23 Apr 2026.

Pupils

2025/26

Pupils at the January school census.

MeasureThis school
Total pupils1,337
Girls624
Boys713
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.19.4%
First language not English8.5%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.1,308
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.0%
Sixth form places2024/25250
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.210
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.43
Average class size21.6

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Pupils ethnicity

2025/26

Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.

Pupils ethnicity

White British
64.2%
Other White
9.1%
Bangladeshi
6.2%
White and Asian
3.4%
White and Black Caribbean
3%
Other mixed
2.6%
Indian
2.6%
Other Asian
1.9%
White and Black African
1.5%
Pakistani
1.3%

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Teachers and staff

2025/26

Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.

MeasureThis school
Pupils per teacher16.4
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.12.3
Teachers (FTE)81.7
Teaching assistants (FTE)7.34
Support staff (FTE)48.65
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2571.7
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2556.5
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/254
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/2511.2

Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.

Admissions

2026/27

Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.

MeasureThis school
Offers made (Year 7)Places offered on national offer day.235
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.621
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.182
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.162
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)1

Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.

Attendance

2025/26

Share of possible sessions missed.

MeasureThis schoolHertfordshireEngland
Overall absence9.6%, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire7.4%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.27%, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire18.5%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.3.7%, similar to England, worse than Hertfordshire2.9%3.6%

Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

Suspensions and exclusions

2024/25

Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.

MeasureThis school
Suspension rate7%
Pupils with one or more suspensions4%
Permanent exclusion rate0.1%
Permanent exclusions1

Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.

Destinations after GCSEs

2023/24

Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.95.6%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.92.2%
School sixth form51.7%
Further education40%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.2.9%
Apprenticeship2%
Employment1.5%
Sixth form college0%

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Destinations after A-levels

2023/24

Where students went after 16 to 18 study, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.85.8%
Higher education47.5%
Employment27.5%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.9.2%
Further education3.3%
Apprenticeship2.5%

Source: DfE, 16 to 18 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Nearby schools

Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.

Schools near The Marlborough Science Academy
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.2 miPrimarySt Adrian Roman Catholic Primary SchoolVoluntary aided school
Good
0.3 miNot applicableSt Columba's CollegeOther independent school
Unrated
0.4 miPrimaryMandeville Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.5 miPrimaryKilligrew Primary and Nursery SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.6 miPrimaryPrae Wood Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.7 miPrimaryThe Abbey Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, St AlbansVoluntary aided school
Good
0.8 miPrimarySt Peter's SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.9 miNot applicableSt Albans SchoolOther independent school
Unrated
1.0 miNot applicableSt Albans Independent CollegeOther independent school
Good
1.1 miPrimarySt Michael's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, St AlbansVoluntary aided school
Outstanding

Frequently asked questions about The Marlborough Science Academy

What is The Marlborough Science Academy's Ofsted rating?

The Marlborough Science Academy is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected on 29 Nov 2023.

How does The Marlborough Science Academy rank in England?

The Marlborough Science Academy ranks 2,242 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (worse than 67% of schools) and 1,950 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (worse than 76% of schools).

What are The Marlborough Science Academy's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 29% of pupils at The Marlborough Science Academy got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 42.6 (England 46.2).

What are The Marlborough Science Academy's A-level results?

In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at The Marlborough Science Academy was C, and 7.1% of students got AAB or better (England 17.5%).

How hard is it to get into The Marlborough Science Academy?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, The Marlborough Science Academy made 235 offers from 621 applications (2.6 per offer), and 162 of 182 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend The Marlborough Science Academy?

The Marlborough Science Academy has 1,337 pupils aged 11 to 18.

What is the capacity of The Marlborough Science Academy?

The Marlborough Science Academy had 1,308 school places in 2024/25.

Does The Marlborough Science Academy have a sixth form?

Yes, The Marlborough Science Academy has a sixth form with 250 places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at The Marlborough Science Academy?

At The Marlborough Science Academy, the average class had 21.6 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 16.4 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at The Marlborough Science Academy?

In 2025/26, pupils at The Marlborough Science Academy missed 9.6% of sessions (England 8%), and 27% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 21.6%).

Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.