Marlborough College
School summary
Founded in 1843, Marlborough College is a full-boarding co-educational school in Wiltshire with a Church of England character and roughly 1,000 pupils aged 13 to 18. The Independent Schools Inspectorate rated it excellent for both education and personal development, with all compliance standards met. Its pupil-to-teacher ratio of around 5:1 is exceptionally generous, pointing to small teaching groups and close academic attention. A large sixth form of 442 sits at the heart of the College, and a substantial bursary programme - over 110 pupils currently supported, with ambitions for around 100 fully funded places by 2033 - signals a serious commitment to widening access.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
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Latest results
GCSE grade 9-7
67%
National average 23%
A-level A*-A
51%
National average 28%
A-level A*-B
86%
National average 55%
Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- excellent
- ISI personal development
- excellent
- Last inspected
- 11 November 2025
Teaching & academics
Results are strong across both phases: 67% of GCSE grades were 9-7, while at A-level 51% reached A*-A and 86% A*-B. The curriculum spans GCSE, A-level and the EPQ, with popular sixth-form choices including Mathematics, Economics, the sciences, History and English Literature. Languages are a notable strength, with French, Spanish, Italian, Russian and Chinese all on offer, alongside classical study such as Latin lower down the school.
Languages
Popular GCSE subjects
Master · Louise Moelwyn-Hughes
Sixth form
- Sixth-form pupils
- 442
A-level subjects
Qualifications offered
Beyond the classroom
Sport is wide-ranging, taking in rugby, cricket, hockey, netball, tennis, rowing, athletics and swimming. Scholarships across academics, music, drama, art and sport reflect the breadth of opportunity beyond the classroom. The Directors' scholarships in music and sport mark these as areas of particular standing.
Main sports
School life & ethos
- Founded
- 1843
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Boarding
- Yes
- SEN support
- 0%
- EHC plans
- 0%
Mobile phone policy
Pupils allowed to carry mobile phones while outside boarding houses. Not allowed during mealtimes, lessons, co-curricular activities or walking around campus/town unless emergency. In lower school, phones taken in during studies, pep and before bedtime (Monday-Sunday) and returned next morning. Screen time restrictions (one hour per day) requested on devices.
Fees & bursaries
- Boarding fees (per year)
- £59,143
- Bursaries up to
- 100% of fees
Yes - over 110 pupils currently supported with bursaries. Aiming for 100 pupils on fully funded places and similar number on partially funded places by 2033
Schools nearby
St Francis School
Pewsey, South West
Oaklands School
Hungerford, South East
Connex
Swindon, South West
Pinewood
Shrivenham, South East
Compass Community School Wheatley Park
Swindon, South West
St Marys Calne and St Margarets Prep
Calne, South West
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A long-established full-boarding college combining excellent inspection judgements with tiny class sizes and a serious bursary mission. Families weighing fees of up to £59,143 should know the College is working hard to make those places reach further.
That’s where Passmate comes in. Tutoring is the most effective thing in a child’s preparation - a well-tutored child can outperform the vast majority of their peers. Passmate works alongside your tutor, not instead of them: it learns how your child thinks, finds the gaps, and shows the tutor exactly where to spend each session - so the limited time you have lands on what actually decides a place.
Works alongside your child’s tutor - not instead of them.
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Marlborough College 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.