Marchbank Free School
| Type | Special School / Free schools special |
| Age Range | 5-11 |
| Religion | Does not apply |
| Address | Mowden Hall Barnes Road Darlington County Durham DL3 9BL |
| Phone | 01325254670 |
| Reference Number | 139691 |
Marchbank Free School has shown significant improvements since its previous inspection, moving from a grade of 'Requires Improvement' to 'Good'. The school provides a nurturing environment where pupils feel safe and supported, allowing them to thrive. The quality of education is strong, particularly in personal development and behavior, which are rated as outstanding. The effective curriculum is tailored to meet the individual needs of students, and staff are dedicated to helping pupils achieve their personal and academic goals. The leadership team, supported by the Education Village Academy Trust, demonstrates a clear commitment to continuous improvement.
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 55 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 90.91%
Girls: 9.09% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 60% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 3.6% |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Unknown | 1 |
| 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 3 | 4 | Unknown | 4 |
| 4 | 16 | 1 | 17 |
| 5 | 15 | 3 | 18 |
| 6 | 11 | Unknown | 11 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 90.9% |
| Unclassified | 3.6% |
| White & Black (African) | 3.6% |
| Mixed, Other | 1.8% |
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Good |
| > Quality of education | Good |
| > Behaviour & Attitude | Outstanding |
| > Personal Development | Outstanding |
| > Leadership & Management | Good |
| Last Report Date | 23 Jan 2024 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 23 Jan 2024 | School inspection: |
| 15 Jun 2021 | Full inspection: |
| 25 Mar 2021 | Monitoring visit |
| 29 Sep 2020 | Monitoring visit |
| 09 Jul 2019 | Full inspection: |
| 02 Jun 2015 | Full inspection: |
Strengths
- Pupils thrive in a nurturing environment that promotes safety and care.
- Outstanding behavior and attitudes from pupils.
- Strong focus on personal development that prepares pupils for future success.
- Well-organized curriculum tailored to meet individual pupil needs.
- High-quality training for staff supporting pupils with special educational needs.
- Effective methods for teaching reading and promoting a love for reading.
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistent implementation of the curriculum in a minority of subjects.
- Some teachers do not swiftly identify or address misconceptions, leading to gaps in pupils' learning.
How many students meet the standards
| Reading, Writing & Maths | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils meeting the expected standard | 0% | ||
| Pupils meeting a higher standard | 0% |
Average Scaled Score
Results are converted into scaled scores to allow accurate comparisons of performance over time even if the difficulty of the test varies over time. Scaled scores range from 80 to 120.
| Subject | School | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 99 | ||
| Maths | 94 |
Progress Scores
A progress score is a way to measure how well a student progressed in comparison to other students of a similar starting ability. A score of zero means would mean that a student made the same progress as others that had a similar starting a ability. A positive score would mean that the student made more progress than other students of similar starting ability. The scores below are for the whole school so is the average progress score across all students.
| Metric | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | -0.4 | ||
| Writing | -0.9 | ||
| Maths | -4 |
How many students meet the standards
Sample
UnlockAverage Scaled Score
Results are converted into scaled scores to allow accurate comparisons of performance over time even if the difficulty of the test varies over time. Scaled scores range from 80 to 120.
Sample
UnlockProgress Scores
A progress score is a way to measure how well a student progressed in comparison to other students of a similar starting ability. A score of zero means would mean that a student made the same progress as others that had a similar starting a ability. A positive score would mean that the student made more progress than other students of similar starting ability. The scores below are for the whole school so is the average progress score across all students.
Sample
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