The Marlborough Science Academy, St Albans

In its own words: "It is a huge privilege to lead a school with such a strong tradition of care, opportunity and ambition. We strive to provide an exceptional education that enables every student to flourish both within and outside the classroom."

In 2026, pupils at The Marlborough Science Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 42.6, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 50.6 in Hertfordshire and 47 across England.

29% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 53% in Hertfordshire and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 43.4.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.1: pupils made about average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 33, against 45.4 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 12.4 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 31 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 182 families put The Marlborough Science Academy as their first choice and 621 named it as one of their preferences, for 235 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 20 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to The Marlborough Science Academy are Loreto College (1.3 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 56.2); Samuel Ryder Academy (1.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 52.4); Verulam School (1.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 54.4); and St Albans Girls' School (2.3 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 60.7).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than The Marlborough Science Academy.

Of the 205 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 92% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 40% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 120 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 48% went on to university or other higher education, 3% to apprenticeships and 28% into work. 6% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

8.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (64%), Asian (12%) and Mixed (11%).

The nearest railway station is St Albans Abbey Rail Station, about 840 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Midway (opposite), 190 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood The Marlborough Science Academy stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, The Marlborough Science Academy issued 93 suspensions, 7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to The Marlborough Science Academy are St Adrian Roman Catholic Primary School (0.2 miles), Mandeville Primary School (0.4 miles), Killigrew Primary and Nursery School (0.5 miles) and Prae Wood Primary School (0.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.