Marshlands School, Stafford
Marshlands School is a special school for pupils aged 5 to 11 in Stafford. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Marshlands School in detail
Marshlands School in its own words
In its own words: "Marshlands is a generic special school for pupils in Year 1 - 6. All pupils that attend Marshlands have a range of learning needs and access provision that is adapted and to support pupils to reach their full potential. All pupils that attend Marshlands have an Educational Health Care plan (EHCP)."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Marshlands School are Greenhall (under 0.1 miles); Achieve Beyond Schools, Stafford (1.7 miles); Heather Field School (3.3 miles, Outstanding); and Walton Hall Academy (4.1 miles, Good).
GreenhallAchieve Beyond Schools, StaffordHeather Field SchoolWalton Hall Academy
What parents say
28 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Marshlands School (as of September 2025): 86% would recommend the school, 96% say their child is happy there and 57% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (96%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (57%).
Who goes there
41.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 11.4% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (76%), Asian (8%) and Mixed (8%).
Almost every pupil at Marshlands School has an education, health and care plan (198 of 201 in 2026). The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Marshlands School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, speech, language and communication needs, autism, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Stafford Rail Station, about 1.7 miles away in a straight line.
14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Second Avenue (near), 180 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
Marshlands School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from December 2014, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Marshlands School places pupils' personal development and wellbeing at the heart of everything it does. Staff build warm, caring relationships with every child, helping them feel safe and supported. The school is committed to teaching pupils to be independent learners with high expectations for achievement, supported by a strong focus on communication skills.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional focus on personal development and building pupil independence embedded throughout school life -
- Strong emphasis on communication and language development using a total communication approach -
- Effective early reading programme with pupils learning sounds in logical order and a love of reading promoted -
- Positive, caring relationships where staff know pupils well and pupils feel safe -
- Good use of local area and enrichment activities including sporting events, trips, swimming and visitors
Areas for Improvement
- Learning activities are not always well matched to pupils' needs - some tasks are too easy or too difficult -
- Staff sometimes give pupils too much help, which can limit their growth as independent learners -
- Inconsistency in how the curriculum is delivered in some instances, affecting how well pupils achieve
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Weekly swimming pool visits, sporting events, trips, school visitors, kindness ambassador opportunities
Marshlands School is a special school for pupils aged 5-11 with a range of needs including autism, moderate learning difficulties, and communication needs. The school has maintained good standards and demonstrates exceptional work in supporting pupils' personal development and independence.
At a Glance
41.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SpLD, Vision, Other +6
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
28 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Maths has declined from 4% to 0% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from Marshlands School
World Cup/Football Day - Friday 26th June
29 Jun 2026
Mr Whippy visits Marshlands
29 Jun 2026
Chinese New Year
24 Feb 2026
Table Cricket
27 Jan 2026
Samba Drumming
8 Jul 2025
Personal Development Day
4 Jun 2025
From Marshlands School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Marshlands School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Marshlands School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Marshlands School is in Staffordshire; for families living there:
Apply to Staffordshire for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 7
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 7 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Staffordshire is 5 (the median across 457 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
118%
Over capacity
201 pupils
170 places
31 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Stafford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Stafford
Across Staffordshire council
Places available
8,807
Applications
7,681
Got 1st preference
91.9%
Got preferred school
98.5%
All secondary applications across Staffordshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
3
SEN Support
198
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Marshlands School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, speech, language and communication needs, autism, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
201
Total Pupils
138
Boys
63
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
20
Teachers
10.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,616
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.2%
Overall absence
22.9%
Persistent absence
179
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Marshlands School
Questions parents ask about Marshlands School
What are SATs results like at Marshlands School?
Of the pupils at Marshlands School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Marshlands School's Ofsted rating?
Marshlands School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in December 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Marshlands School?
No fixed boundary. When Marshlands School is oversubscribed, Staffordshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Marshlands School?
Marshlands School has around 201 pupils on roll. 42% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Marshlands School have specialist SEN provision?
Marshlands School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, speech, language and communication needs, autism, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Marshlands School?
7.2% of sessions were missed at Marshlands School in 2024/25. 22.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Marshlands School?
Apply through Staffordshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Marshlands School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Marshlands School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 7 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Staffordshire is 5 (the median across 457 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Marshlands School?
Marshlands School is at Second Avenue, Tillington, Stafford, Staffordshire, ST16 1PS.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)