Academic Matters

The College’s Academic Aims can be found on the College website.

Structure

Pupils who enter the College at 13 years of age spend three years in the Lower School (Shell, Remove and Hundred) and two years in the Upper School (Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth).

The Lower School

During the Shell year, all pupils follow a broad and balanced curriculum and the key aim is to develop good work habits for the future. As part of this mission, pupils are taught “Form”, in place of English, History and Religious Studies (details can be found in the Shell Curriculum Booklet or on the College’s website).

At Christmas of the Shell year, a GCSE Curriculum Booklet is sent to parents to describe the various GCSE courses from which their children may choose and in late February, following the Shell Parents’ Meeting, pupils select their GCSE subjects.

At the end of the Shell year, there are internal examinations: these provide a clear objective for pupils and, in streamed subjects, help to ensure that the setting is correct.

At the start of the Remove year, pupils embark upon their chosen GCSE courses in earnest. GCSE examinations are taken at the end of the Hundred year. There is a Remove Parents’ Meeting in May to discuss progress and another set of internal examinations at the end of the Remove year.

During the Hundred year, pupils complete their GCSE courses, including the appropriate coursework. There are Mock Examinations in January, followed by the Hundred Parents’ Meeting, at which there is a discussion both of GCSE prospects and of possible Sixth Form choices.

The Upper School

The College expects pupils to undertake post-16 courses which are demanding and of sufficient breadth to enable them to differentiate themselves in a competitive university admissions market. Pupils are encouraged to stretch themselves and to develop their abilities to the fullest and our Sixth Form Curriculum is designed to help them do just that.

Upper School pupils are required to choose three or four main subjects; those choosing four are expected to continue with all four for two years.

In addition, pupils are encouraged to choose from a range of complementary subjects, which include the EPQ (Extended Project Qualification), a course in Creative Writing, and a number of foreign language courses.

Further details can be found in the Sixth Form Curriculum Booklet which is on the College website.

Academic Progress

This is carefully and constantly monitored by individual teachers, by the tutor and the Housemaster/Housemistress. Oversight of the academic progress of all pupils falls via the Assistant Head (Teaching and Learning) to the Deputy Head (Academic). Throughout the school, formal and informal reporting of attainment and effort occurs (through Interim and Full Reports) which are written around once per half-term, and the HM Reports to parents).

In addition to regular assessments, individual pieces of work can receive special approval (or if warranted, particular sanctions). In the Lower School, a piece of work that is judged to be of good quality relative to a pupil’s ability is awarded a Commendation, but one of poor quality receives an Academic Detention and may have to be done again. This system provides rapid feedback about academic progress to pupil, tutor and Housemaster/ Housemistress. A record of commendations and other awards earned by a pupil are available to parents via the Parent Portal, and are also published on reports. A poor performance may lead to a pupil being placed on Satis, when the pupil has to take a form to every lesson and secure a positive written comment from each teacher.

Throughout the school it is possible to win prizes for outstanding performances in internal examinations or for exceptional pieces of work. Copies and Distinctions are given for excellent academic achievement. Academic performance is also rewarded with prizes at the end of term and on specific Prize Days.

Learning Support

The College’s Learning Support department is there to help all pupils who may need an extra level of support with their learning, whether for recognised learning differences or not. Pupils complete a screening assessment on arrival; further assessment and support will be organised as appropriate.

English as an Additional Language

English as an Additional Language (EAL) provision is available, if needed, to all pupils whose first language is not English. Support lessons aim to develop pupils’ abilities to communicate effectively in speech and writing to ensure they have the linguistic ability to deal with their studies, activities and social interactions while they are at Marlborough College.

Reporting

As mentioned above, the College’s reporting system consists of:

• Interim Reports (IRs) – these are snapshot reports, and consist of a grade for each of Attainment, Organisation and Academic Ambition, and a short, target-focused comment from each beak.

• Full Reports (FRs) – these consist of a grade for each of Attainment, Organisation and Academic Ambition, with longer summative comments from beaks.

• The tutor discusses academic progress with each pupil in each reporting cycle, and HMs will comment on at least one report per term for each pupil, according to the published schedule.

• All reports are published to parents via the Parent Portal.

Textbooks and Stationery

All necessary textbooks are ordered for pupils in preparation for them joining in the Michaelmas Term. These textbooks will be charged to parents’ bills at the end of the term. In addition, pupils may buy items of stationery plus a small range of snacks and toiletries from the Book Office with permission, using the chit system or with their pocket money.

Individual Foreign Visits

Before individual foreign visits or exchanges abroad are planned in detail, the College’s permission needs to be obtained in the interest of ensuring that important work commitments are not missed. The HM will initiate the process. Normal College fees are to be paid during the period of absence and reasonable notice, at least half a term, must always be given.

Entry to the Upper School

A place at Marlborough in the Lower School does not guarantee entry to the Upper School. At present the academic hurdle for entry into the Upper School is a minimum of six grades at Grade 6 or above at GCSE, (although the majority of our current pupils achieve much higher than this). Those admitted to the school will have the capacity to reach this level and will be expected to do so unless very unusual circumstances pertain. Academic Departments require that pupils should have a minimum of a Grade 7 at GCSE in a subject which they are considering studying at A level. For Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics, pupils should have a minimum of Grade 8 and 9. For subjects that are not taught for GCSE, Heads of Department will use performance in complementary subjects as an indicator. In rare circumstances, an exemption to this requirement may be granted; this will be at the discretion of the Deputy Head (Academic). In addition, progress from the Lower Sixth to the Upper Sixth is dependent upon a satisfactory level of achievement in the Lower Sixth relative to the pupil’s ability.

The Memorial Library

The Library at Marlborough College was built on its current site in 1893 and with The Memorial Library and the Reading Room holds in excess of 30,000 items to support both the curricular and the leisure needs of pupils. These include fiction, non-fiction and reference books, music and audio CDs, DVDs, newspapers, periodicals and magazines and an outstanding e-library.

The Libraries aim to provide a pleasant, welcoming atmosphere both for studying and for promoting a love of books and reading. A quiet working environment is maintained in The Memorial Library where the non-fiction and reference books are held. The Reading Room, with its comfortable chairs and bean bags has a wide range of teenage and adult fiction and provides a relaxed atmosphere for recreational reading. Regular events with visiting authors encourage the promotion of reading for enjoyment. Throughout the year, events such as National Poetry Day and World Book Day are marked and celebrated with poetry swaps and book quizzes. The Library is staffed by an enthusiastic, fully qualified Librarian and two assistants. It is open from 8.30am – 9.00pm on weekdays, on Saturday mornings and on Sunday afternoons throughout the term.

All pupils have a library induction and are encouraged to use all the facilities.