Marsh School has closed (Monday 31 August 2026).
It became an academy, which has a new school record.
Marsh School, High Wycombe
Marsh School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 7 in High Wycombe. It was rated Requires improvement at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2022. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2025 did not change this grade. It was 76% full in 2025.
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement (2022)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Below England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Buckinghamshire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 8 Oct 2026
Marsh School in detail
Getting a place at Marsh School
For September 2026 entry, 28 families put Marsh School as their first choice and 75 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 2 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Marsh School are Marsh School (under 0.1 miles); Beechview Academy (0.4 miles, Requires improvement, 71% reading, 64% maths); Loudwater Combined School (0.9 miles, Good, 76% reading, 86% maths); and Hannah Ball Academy (1 mile, 89% reading, 85% maths).
Marsh SchoolBeechview AcademyLoudwater Combined SchoolHannah Ball Academy
What parents say
26 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Marsh School (as of September 2025): 92% would recommend the school, 96% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that the school has high expectations for their child (85%).
Who goes there
47.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (30%), Asian (23%) and Mixed (22%).
In 2026, 26 pupils (21.8%) received SEN support and 4 (3.4%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Staffing
Marsh School had 10 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is High Wycombe Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
15 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Marsh School (adjacent), 40 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 164 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Buckinghamshire (44), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Marsh School issued 7 suspensions, 4.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Marsh School is a genuinely inclusive school where every child feels welcome and valued. Teachers have high expectations of all pupils and provide excellent support to help them succeed, whether they have additional needs or not. The school goes beyond academics by offering a rich range of clubs, trips and learning experiences that develop confident, well-rounded children.
Key Strengths
- Strong, caring relationships create a safe and welcoming environment where pupils feel valued and belong
- Broad and ambitious curriculum with consistently effective teaching, particularly in mathematics where pupils develop strong fluency and confidence
- Excellent support for pupils with SEND and those learning English as an additional language, enabling them to access all areas of the curriculum
- Well-established behaviour routines with a positive, purposeful school atmosphere
- Rich personal development opportunities including clubs, performances, visits and community projects
Areas for Improvement
- Teachers need to use more precise methods for checking pupils' understanding in some subjects to help them remember key knowledge better
- Writing curriculum needs further development to provide more consistent opportunities for pupils to practise and embed their writing skills throughout the school
- Year 1 phonics screening results remain below national averages, though pupils are making progress from low starting points
- Attendance is still below the national average, despite the school's rigorous and empathetic approach
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with leaders creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Outdoor learning, performances, visits, community projects, before- and after-school club
Marsh School is an exceptionally inclusive and nurturing infant school where pupils thrive in a caring environment. The school has made significant improvements since its previous inspection, with strong teaching, high expectations, and excellent support for all learners including those with SEND.
At a Glance
24.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
26 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Class Sizes
20.8
Avg class size
23.8
Infant (KS1)
5
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Marsh School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Marsh School.
- GetActive@Beechview640m away · Not yet graded
- WrapAroundCare4u @ Beechview Academy640m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
Marsh School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Buckinghamshire. Training (INSET) days, when pupils are not in school, vary by school: check the school's own calendar.
2026 to 2027
- Autumn term: Wednesday 2 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026)
- Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027)
- Summer term: Monday 12 April to Wednesday 21 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027)
2027 to 2028
- Autumn term: Wednesday 1 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027)
- Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028)
- Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028)
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Marsh School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Marsh School is in Buckinghamshire; for families living there:
- Buckinghamshire's school travel policy: Home to School Transport Policy (0 to 25 Year Olds)
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Marsh School
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
76%
Available places
137 pupils
180 places
43 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - High Wycombe
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for High Wycombe
Across Buckinghamshire council
Places available
6,722
Applications
5,630
Got 1st preference
91.6%
Got preferred school
98.6%
All primary applications across Buckinghamshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
26
SEN Support
4
EHC Plans
25.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
119
Total Pupils
62
Boys
57
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
10
Teachers
11.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,911
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,438
Per pupil
£1083k
Total funding
£58k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.2%
Overall absence
24.2%
Persistent absence
120
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Marsh School
What is Marsh School's Ofsted rating?
Marsh School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in December 2022, it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Marsh School?
No fixed boundary. When Marsh School is oversubscribed, Buckinghamshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Marsh School?
Marsh School was not full in 2025: it ran at 76% of its 180 places.
How big are the classes at Marsh School?
Classes at Marsh School average 20.8 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Marsh School?
Marsh School has around 119 pupils on roll. 24% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Marsh School?
7.2% of sessions were missed at Marsh School in 2024/25. 24.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Marsh School?
Apply through Buckinghamshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Marsh School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Marsh School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 2 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of Marsh School: GetActive@Beechview (640m away, registered, not yet graded) and WrapAroundCare4u @ Beechview Academy (640m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
What are Marsh School's term dates?
Marsh School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Buckinghamshire. In 2026 to 2027: Autumn term: Wednesday 2 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026); Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027); Summer term: Monday 12 April to Wednesday 21 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027). In 2027 to 2028: Autumn term: Wednesday 1 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027); Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028); Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028).
Where is Marsh School?
Marsh School is at Abbey Barn Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP11 1RW.
Source: Buckinghamshire term dates