Great Marlow School is a mainstream secondary school in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 155 of its 1,395 pupils (11.1%) were getting SEN support and 68 (4.9%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,395 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Buckinghamshire.
11.1% get SEN support
155 of 1,395 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
4.9% have an EHC plan
68 of 1,395 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health88
- Autism54
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia38
- Speech, language and communication18
- Moderate learning difficulty15
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,395 (places for 1,180)
- Headteacher
- Mr Guy Pendlebury
- Part of
- Marlow Education Trust
- Free school meals
- 17% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Buckinghamshire
- School reference (URN)
- 136964
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Buckinghamshire council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Good, April 2013; school remains Good (November 2022)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in April 2013. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, November 2022).
Contact and getting there
Bobmore Lane, Marlow, SL7 1JE
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Claytons Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 2.1 miles
- Westfield School Special school · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 2.4 miles
- E-Act Bourne End Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 2.6 miles
- Chiltern Wood School Special school · Ages 3–19 · Ofsted: Good 2.7 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Foxes Piece School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 20.5%, EHC plans 4.3% 0.3 miles
- Holy Trinity Church of England (Aided) School Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 12.5%, EHC plans 4% 0.6 miles
- St Peter's Catholic Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 22.5%, EHC plans 12.5% 0.8 miles
All mainstream schools in Buckinghamshire SEND schools in Buckinghamshire
Questions about Great Marlow School
How many pupils at Great Marlow School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 155 of the 1,395 pupils (11.1%) were getting SEN support and 68 (4.9%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Great Marlow School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (88 pupils), autism (54 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (38 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Great Marlow School?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Great Marlow School?
Through Buckinghamshire council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Great Marlow School?
You can ask for Great Marlow School to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Great Marlow School have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Claytons Primary School, about 2.1 miles away.
Where is Great Marlow School?
Bobmore Lane, Marlow, SL7 1JE, in Buckinghamshire.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.