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OpenSecondaryOfsted: GoodURN 138042

The Marlborough Science Academy

Academy converter · St Albans · AL1 2QA

Ages 11–18 · 1,337 pupils · Hertfordshire

School website

Ofsted

Good

Attainment 8

44.1

Overall absence

9.7%

Admissions demand

0.85 · Often has places

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Good

Inspection date

2023-11-29

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8-0.10
−20+2
Attainment 844.1
English & maths grade 5+40%
English & maths grade 4+65%
EBacc entry46%

EBacc APS: 4.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence9.7%
Persistent absence (10%+)35.5%
Unauthorised2.4%
Authorised absence
7.3%
Severe absence (50%+)
2.2%
Enrolments in measure
1,124

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

0.85 · Often has places

1st preferences

186

Places offered

233

1st-preference offers

164

Total preferences (any rank)
620
Preferred offers (top 3)
233
Applications from outside LA
0
Offers to outside-LA applicants
0
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill107%

1,337 pupils · 1,250 places

Pupils on roll
1,337
Boys / girls
713 / 624
School capacity
1,250
Capacity fill
1,337 / 1,250 (107%)
Free school meals
21.2%
FSM pupils
236
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy converter

Age range

Ages 11–18

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

2 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth formHas a sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Academy trust: THE MARLBOROUGH SCIENCE ACADEMY LIMITED
Academy trust
THE MARLBOROUGH SCIENCE ACADEMY LIMITED
Headteacher
Ms Annie Thomson

Location

Address
Watling Street
Postcode
AL1 2QA
Town
St Albans
County
Hertfordshire
Local authority
Hertfordshire
District
St Albans
Constituency
St Albans
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed academy converter (secondary), Ages 11–18, in St Albans, Hertfordshire, 1,337 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, academy, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 21.2%.

Open schools in St Albans
59
Secondary schools in St Albans
8
Academies among open schools in St Albans
37% (22)
Open schools in AL1
21
Secondary in AL1
3
Open schools in Hertfordshire LA
591
Secondary in Hertfordshire LA
77

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in St AlbansNear AL1

  • Loreto College

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy converter · Secondary

    St Albans · AL1 3RQ · Hertfordshire

    Ages 11–18

    • Att859.4
    • P80.7
    • EM5+67%
    • Absence7.5%

    1.3 miles away

  • Verulam School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    St Albans · AL1 4PR · Hertfordshire

    Ages 11–18

    • Att851.8
    • P80.4
    • EM5+57%
    • Absence8.2%

    1.8 miles away

  • St Albans Girls' School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy converter · Secondary

    St Albans · AL3 6DB · Hertfordshire

    Ages 11–18

    • Att856.6
    • P80.6
    • EM5+61%
    • Absence7.1%

    2.3 miles away

  • Beaumont School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy converter · Secondary

    St Albans · AL4 0XB · Hertfordshire

    Ages 11–18

    • Att859.0
    • P80.9
    • EM5+69%
    • Absence5.2%

    2.4 miles away

  • Townsend Church of England School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Voluntary aided school · Secondary

    St Albans · AL3 6DR · Hertfordshire

    Ages 11–18

    • Att848.2
    • P80.1
    • EM5+51%
    • Absence12.3%

    2.5 miles away

  • Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School

    Ofsted: Outstanding

    Academy converter · Secondary

    St Albans · AL4 0TT · Hertfordshire

    Ages 11–18

    • Att854.4
    • P80.8
    • EM5+59%
    • Absence5.1%

    2.7 miles away

  • Sandringham School

    Ofsted: Outstanding

    Academy converter · Secondary

    St Albans · AL4 9NX · Hertfordshire

    Ages 11–18

    • Att864.6
    • P81.1
    • EM5+82%
    • Absence5.2%

    2.8 miles away

  • Parmiter's School

    Ofsted: Outstanding

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Watford · WD25 0UU · Hertfordshire

    Ages 11–18

    • Att868.3
    • P80.7
    • EM5+83%
    • Absence6.6%

    3.0 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Ms Annie Thomson
Telephone
01727856874
Website
http://www.themarlboroughscienceacademy.co.uk/

Official links