• Bülow Blog
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Deutsch

Marlborough College

Marlborough College, located in Marlborough in Wiltshire, is on of the grand, old British boarding schools. Its reputation for great academic results and a mindboggling array of extracurricular activities, including spectacular sports, music, arts and drama are definitely justified. Competition for places is predictably fierce, and parents are encouraged to apply at least three years in advance.
Von Bülow Education placed 1 pupils here in 2023.

The Essentials

  • Number of pupils: 969

  • Percentage of boarders: 100%

  • Percentage of international pupils: 15%

  • Av. class size: senior school - 15 / 6th Form - 8

  • Closest international airport: London Heathrow Airport, 90 minutes by car from the school

  • Fees per term for 2023/2024: £15,665


Watch a Video about the school
Have a question about this school or want us to help you?

What we think
A blue-chip British boarding school par excellence.

The Details

The Academics:

The school offers IGCSEs, GCSEs and A-Levels.

Marlborough College is undoubtedly an academically strong school. In 2023, 60% of A-Level grades were A-grades and a stunning 71% of GCSE grades were 9-7 grades.

Next to a broad range of subjects on offer, we especially like the school's mini-electives to further the pupils' knowledge beyond the conventional curriculum. Pupils can take anything from how to be a great public speaker to how to solve cryptic crosswords.

Lots of languages including Latin, Greek, German, French Spanish, Italian, Mandarin, Japanese, Russian and Arabic on offer.

Boarding:

Marlborough College has stayed true to its full-boarding ethos: all pupils board here, no exception.

Sixteen boarding houses exist, all mixed age with their own individual personalities and strengths. All houses are in decent shape!

Exeat weekends are compulsory here.

Strengths:

Marlborough College really is a classic English boarding school with everything that needs to go with this: a very clear identity and strong ethos, full boarding, stunning campus, excellent teaching and exam results and an amazing array of extracurricular activities. The whole package!

The extracurriculars are amazing across the board here, starting with excellent sports, particularly the rugby and hockey, but a huge range of good sports including lacrosse, polo, fencing, swimming, tennis shooting and water polo on offer. The outdoors sports is popular, with mountain-biking, canoeing and hiking special favorites.

The drama is another forte. The school's own Ellis Theatre (seats 500) sees three major productions of very high quality a year, several musical and boarding house productions also.

Music is just as good! Over half of pupils take individual lessons with excellent teaching offered. The school's symphony orchestra is famed for its quality, the chapel choir outstanding and many ensembles and bands to join and perform in.

Curious by nature? Then you'll love the many clubs and societies on offer at Marlborough College. From astronomy (own observatory!) to retro book club the school offers a smorgasbord of amazing things to do outside the classroom.

Weaknesses:

Too much on? Some families seem to think so! Pupils sometimes complain of the stresses of competing demands from sports, music, drama and academics.


The Location
Marlborough College is located in the town Marlborough, one hour's drive from London.

The Address
Marlborough College


SN8 1PA
England

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter
Interested in our insights, opinions and stories related to English boarding schools? Then why not sign up!
von Bülow Education
Holbrooke House
34 - 38 Hill Rise
Richmond
TW10 6UA

Tel: +44 (0) 203 9534063
Email: info@buloweducation.com