Marches School

In 2011, the Marches School, based in Oswestry, became the Marches Academy Trust. The primary driver behind the decision to become a Multi Academy Trust was to ensure funding could be used for the future of the school through funding for teachers.

1482students
BAverage Grade (at A level)

Community support

Parents were supportive of the school becoming an Academy as they saw this change as an opportunity to potentially open a Sixth Form. To move this change forward, the Trust leadership team put a business case to the Department for Education and, in the summer of 2012, the school successfully gained approval for opening a new Sixth Form. The move to become an Academy ensures that funding could be used to get value for money solutions to put more teachers in the school and create more educational opportunities for young local people.

Marches School | Marches Academy Trust

Achievements made possible with a MAT

In line with their objectives and plans for the school, the Marches School did receive real value for money solutions and welcome more teachers into the school. The school was also successful in gaining capital bids to repair important structural elements of the building, such as repairing the roof, getting a new boiler and even purchasing the building next to the school. This new dwelling became the Sixth Form and Training Centre for the Marches School.

Safeguarding Teachers | Marches Academy Trust

Education is the best way to open doors to opportunities, especially in the unstable world of today. My key motivation is in ensuring all students get the best opportunities possible - academically and as a whole.

Alison, Executive Director of Education

Initially, the Marches School offered a lot of support to other schools as they joined the Trust. Over time, these schools have grown in strength, true collaboration and cross fertilisation of ideas now exists to support all schools to grow and develop. More recently, the Marches School has benefitted from a capital allocation to build a new reception area, meeting rooms, gym and an improved outside area for the Sixth Form.

Achievement Through Learning - Benefits for Pupils | Marches Academy Trust

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Longlands Primary School and Nursery

Longlands Primary School joined Marches Academy Trust in September 2019 following the closure of the previous academy trust. At the time of joining, Longlands Primary School was already a successful school with a good Ofsted but with development needed in the Early Years Provision.

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Idsall School and Sixth Form case study | Marches Academy Trust

Idsall School and Sixth Form

In September 2023, Idsall School based in Shifnal, Shropshire joined the Marches Academy Trust. In the short time of joining the Trust, Idsall has grown from strength to strength and has been welcomed as very much part of the Trust’s team

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