Thank you for taking an interest in our excellent school. I am extremely proud and consider it to be a privilege to be the Executive Headteacher of Great Marlow.
The school continues to grow and thrive; we are in the enviable position of being an over-subscribed school of choice, with over 1,450 students, aged 11-19, of whom approximately 250 are in the Sixth Form.
Since 2015, the intake per year is 230 students. This was made possible by a local authority funded extensive building programme, including performing arts accommodation and a stunning two storey block adjacent to the hall, containing seven new classrooms and a new school entrance. At the same time, we doubled the size of the dining facilities, developed a number of excellent outdoor seating areas, and significantly improved the security of the site.
A significant development of the school’s facilities included the ‘state of the art’ sports centre, named after former student Sir Steve Redgrave, and the Sixth Form Centre, with study facilities that truly inspire students to strive to achieve the very best possible.
All these improvements have enriched and enhanced the learning environment, as the modern facilities were designed specifically to accommodate our flourishing school.
Our motto is on show every day as we consistently demonstrate that GMS creates opportunities for every child, supports them to realise their potential and enables them to achieve excellence. We continue to strive to work, with increasing effectiveness, in partnership with our students, parents/carers, and the local and wider community.
Our vision is to offer the highest quality learning environment possible so that our students are inspired to be compassionate, successful, and resilient contributors to a better society.
Our curriculum has been carefully designed with significant flexibility to make sure it meets the needs of all our students. It provides a very broad and balanced curriculum at Key Stage 3, an excellent range of options at GCSE and, in the Sixth Form, a wide range of post-16 qualifications: A-levels, T-levels and BTEC qualifications. The richness of our curriculum is delivered through high quality teaching and learning. In lessons, students develop their depth of knowledge and understanding, and the essential skills required to apply this knowledge to variety of situations and circumstances. All students experience the highest level of care and guidance to support their personal and academic development, and this reflects the commitment and dedication of the staff: it is the essential ingredient that ensures every student makes exceptional progress. As a result, the examination results for all courses are excellent.
The introduction of ‘My Personal Best’ has encouraged students to focus on the qualities of the 6 Rs: Respect; Readiness; Reflection; Responsibility; Resourcefulness and Resilience. These skills are explicitly developed in students in all individual subjects and lessons as well as in our extensive extra-curricular programme. The 7th R of Reading is positively impacting on all children’s vocabulary and use of language both verbally and written, which will only enhance their performance in all subjects and activities across the school.
Our broad and rich extra-curricular activities offer opportunities to every student: visits, trips, theatre outings, sports, drama productions, music recitals, Duke of Edinburgh, Enterprise business opportunities and being part of the eco-movement.
All these activities enrich the work of this school and strengthens our position at the heart of the Marlow community.
Great Marlow continues to be an integral part of the local community. The governance of the school is a key strength and has played an integral role in shaping the vision, values and ethos of this establishment. The governors are a dedicated, highly qualified, professional team of people who work extremely effectively with the leadership team to ensure continuing success.
Students thoroughly enjoy school and are clearly pleased to be a GMS student. Visitors always comment on the fantastic atmosphere that pervades the school, the purpose and commitment, but also the smiles and obvious enjoyment of everyone involved. We are extremely proud of our school and encourage parents and carers to learn more about us.
Kevin Ford
Executive Headteacher