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Marlborough School, Woodstock

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The Marlborough School
Address
Map
Shipton Road

Woodstock
,
Oxfordshire
,
OX20 1 LP

England England
Information
TypeChurch of England, State Comprehensive
Motto'Dieu defend le droit' (God defends the right)
Religious affiliation(s)Anglican Christian
Established1939
Local authorityOxfordshire County Council
SpecialistHunanities, Business and Enterprise
Head teacherMrs. Julie Fenn
The Church of EnglandQueen Elizabeth II
GenderCo-educational
Age11 to 18
Enrollment1,032
Colour(s)Navy & White    
PublicationMarlborough News
Former pupilsMarlboroughites[citation needed]
Websitehttp://www.marlborough.oxon.sch.uk/

The Marlborough School (not to be confused with Marlborough College, the Wiltshire fee-paying school) is a co-educational Church of England comprehensive school, approximately six miles from the City of Oxford, serving the Oxfordshire market town ancient seat and historic town of Woodstock and its surrounding villages. The school takes its name from the Duke of Marlborough whose ancestral home, Blenheim Palace, is nearby. In the 2008-2009 academic year the school enrolled over a thousand pupils; it is a popular school and regularly oversubscribed. The headteacher is Mrs. Julie Fenn.

Ex-pupils have created an 900+ strong Marlborough School Survivors' group on the social networking website Facebook. in the 2 1/2 years of the group being created.

History

World War II to the 1970s

Although Geoffrey Chaucer once taught at a school in Woodstock and, in the 16th century, the town had its own free grammar school, The Marlborough School was opened in 1939 by the Bishop of Dorchester, suffragan bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Oxford. The original school was built as a single building which has become known as the main block. There is a foundation stone bearing the details of the opening of the school at the main entrance. The interior of the main block has been remodelled extensively over the years. During WWII 'Marlboroughites' enjoyed an education within not only the grounds of Blenheim but also the palace itself.

After World War II pre-fabricated ex-army barracks were erected at the west end of the site. At various times these were used for home economics teaching and as a sixth form block.

Additional class rooms for music and for science and technology teaching together with a library and canteen were erected in the 1970s.

1970s-1990s

The school suffered particularly badly from the underfunding of English state education in the 1980s and early 1990s under the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher. The entire Foreign Language Department and some parts of the English and Science Departments were based in temporary porta-cabin classrooms situated on the east of the site. The largest of these, "the battleship" erected in the late 1990s was only replaced almost a decade later.

From the 1970s through to the 1990s, the school had a reputation as a progressive comprehensive, with a focus on teaching how to learn and how to socialise, which it did with varying degrees of success. Former headmaster, Mr A.G. O'Hagan, favoured CSEs (Certificate of Secondary Education, achievement graded by 1-5, 5 the lowest and 1 an equivalent to a C grade at O-Level) over GCE (General Certificate of Education) '0' level examinations as he prioritised cumulative and cooperative learning over competition; the two examinations have since been replaced by the modern GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education).

Unfortunately, the emphasis on CSEs left some school leavers from this era at a disadvantage and was a contributing factor to the Marlborough School's GCE under performance. During this time, Mr. O'Hagan and his staff foresaw a future where technology would replace many manual jobs and create increased leisure time; thus sports, hobbies and community service were encouraged, lessening the time spent on formal academic education. Nonetheless, the school has long maintained a well-attended sixth form programme and some pupils have attended leading universities, including Oxbridge.

Edward McConnell, headmaster from the late 1980s to the early 2000s increased emphasis on the importance of examinations. By the late 1990s, GCSE results became nationally competitive, although the school still suffered from middle-class flight to the nearby comprehensive Cherwell School and to private schools in the surrounding area. The school today remains an upper-middle class and some say upper class school. It is however not in doubt that Marlborough is one of the most prestigious schools in the country.

Starting in the late 1990s, new language, mathematics and sixth form blocks were built to complement the existing science, music, library/cafeteria buildings and sports hall.

21st century

By the start of the 21st century the Marlborough had improved its reputation in A-level examinations, with the school being ranked in The Times "Parent Power Top State Schools" list in 2005 and again 2006. Now it is arguably one of the best performing schools in the county, due to excellent Ofsted reports, newspaper rankings and its proximity to a university.

Marlborough students enjoy outdoor sports in Blenheim Park as well as regular Fun Runs every year which pays for Woodstock Pensioners Annual Christmas Dinner.

The Marlborough School acquired the status of a Business and Enterprise school under Labour's specialist school programme.

In 2007, plans were unveiled for a new £1,000,000 multi-purpose school building with a theatre, cinema and conference venue proposed. This building, the Marlborough Enterprise Centre, opened in early 2008 and saw a student-led production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat in July of the same year.

Elective System

The School has a popular "elective" afternoon each Wednesday. This scheme was launched in the mid 1980s and originally took place every school day afternoon. Students choose, on a termly basis from a list of approximately 30 activities which include activities such as 5-a-side football, cookery, Bowling, Golf, Equestrianism, The Duke of Edinburgh Award and partaking in the Schools in Action project and coursework assistance for Key Stage 4 pupils.

Ormerod Department

A particular feature of the Marlborough School is an embedded unit from the Ormerod school which allows children with disabilities in Oxfordshire to be educated in a mainstream secondary school. On 1 September 2007 the two schools merged into one. Named after John Ormerod, the Oxfordian doctor who chronicled and requested improvements to the city of Oxford in the Cholera outbreak in the 19th Century.

The Sixth Form

The Sixth Form at Marlborough, form an essential and integral body of the school. The students are mostly non-leavers from previous years however newcomers are welcomed. The Sixth Formers are allowed privileges which year 7-11 students are denied, such as, a free dress code, meaning no uniform is required but it is advised what sort of clothing is appropriate. Students are allowed free periods in which they are expected to study, they have assigned rooms for only sixth form students in regards to this. The Sixth Form Common Room, is a hall assigned to years 12 and 13 in which the majority of the sixth form relax, however the conservatory wing of the cafeteria is reserved for sixth form students as well as staff and guests. The sixth form also enjoy a sixth form garden attached to the sixth form common room which is continuously attended, this garden contains 2 benches dedicated to the memory of students of untimely departure. In total the approximate number of sixth form students in year 12 and 13 adds to 150 people.

Notable alumni

Marlborough Today

Presently The Marlborough School has a large construction process of a new science block being erected in place of the staff car park. Marlborough has ranked in The Times "Parent Power Top State Schools" list in 2005 and again 2006 and has achieved remarkable Ofsted reports. The School is renown for the notable sporting teams which it produces and competes on national levels. As well as the Musical achievements of this school are of note, the chamber choir has visited Continental Europe on many occasions most recently vising Prague Cathedral and recording a winter CD. Marlborough students filmed a minor film for BBC called 'The Boyfriend' during the Easter Holidays of 2008. Marlborough also won the health eating school of the year in 2007 after Jamie Oliver campaigned for good school dinners and Marlborough showed their support by bringing the lunch menu into the 21st century. A current objective of the school is to make Woodstock a plastic-bag-free town. Many local residents of Woodstock write to the school and praise the students on their exemplary behavior and conduct within Woodstock.

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