Marlborough School, Falmouth

Ofsted's report card from its 23 June 2026 inspection grades Marlborough School on 7 areas: 3 strong standard and 4 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Early years - Strong standard. "Leaders are highly knowledgeable about the early years."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders, and staff, demonstrate a clear and consistent commitment to fostering a highly inclusive culture."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The offer to develop Marlborough pupils beyond the classroom and in their personal, social and emotional endeavours is impressive."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils achieve and progress well through the curriculum from their starting points."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Pupils want to be in school because of leaders and staff efforts to provide an exciting and engaging education offer."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Marlborough's ambitious curriculum is coherently sequenced and appropriately structured."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders, including governors, and staff are dedicated in their commitment to ensuring that Marlborough School offers a well-rounded education so that pupils can be the best versions of themselves, academically and personally."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that the pupils' learning across the wider curriculum prepares them well for the rigour of the subject-specific secondary curriculum"; "Leaders should continue to develop and empower all staff to be fully consistent in their roles to drive improvements across the school, and sustain leaders' ambitious vision, high expectations and approach to education for all pupils".

In its own words: "To bring the world to our children and prepare them to go into the world as citizens who value life and learning. We value ourselves as unique human beings capable of spiritual, moral, intellectual and physical growth and development. We value others for themselves, not only for what they have or what they can do for us."

The school runs a breakfast club.

In 2025, 83% of Year 6 pupils at Marlborough School reached the expected standard in reading and 80% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 73% in Cornwall and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (83% in reading, 83% in maths).

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 43 families put Marlborough School as their first choice and 102 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.4 first choices for every place. 14 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Marlborough School are King Charles Church of England Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 80% reading, 83% maths); St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Falmouth (0.5 miles, Requires improvement, 70% reading, 70% maths); Falmouth Primary Academy (0.7 miles, Good, 81% reading, 78% maths); and St Francis CofE Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 67% reading, 74% maths).

Marlborough School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

10.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 3.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The nearest railway station is Penmere Rail Station, about 450 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Swanpool Hill (ne-bound), 250 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 143 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Cornwall (14), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Marlborough School issued 1 suspension, 0.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.