St. Mark's West Essex Catholic School

Address: Tripton Road, Harlow, Essex CM18 6AA

Telephone: 01279 421267. Fax: 01279 418220

Headteacher: Mr. David Brunwin

St Mark's West Essex Catholic School is a secondary school and sixth form for boys and girls. The age range of the pupils is 11-18.

News & Events

Past Pupils' Reunion: 25 September 2004 in the school hall. Disco & Bar. Tickets £10 (all profits to school fund). Contact Mrs. Gunn via school or Wayne Everett. No tickets will be on sale on the night; advanced sales only.

Information About the School

(source: 2nd January 2001 OFSTED inspection report)

St Mark’s is a fairly small 11-18 voluntary aided Roman Catholic comprehensive school in Harlow in Essex. The roll is rising and the school is now oversubscribed. It has 757 pupils on roll which is about 200 more than at the last inspection. The school serves six Catholic parishes in the area and also takes a fairly high proportion of children of other faiths. The pupils come from mixed social backgrounds and the proportion of pupils entitled to free school meals is about average. Most pupils are of white UK heritage with about ten per cent from European, Chinese or Asian backgrounds. Very few children are at an early stage of learning
English. About 20 per cent of the pupils have been identified as having special educational needs, with eleven of them having a statement of special educational need. This is broadly average. Attainment on entry was below average but has been improving. This year about eight out of every ten pupils achieved the level most pupils are expected to achieve in the national tests in Year 6. This is above average.

How Good The School Is

St. Mark’s is providing its pupils with a sound education. At Key Stage 3 standards are in line with national expectations. At Key Stage 4 standards, though still below average overall, are rising. The improvement in the pupils’ attainment when they join the school has not yet had time to have an impact on the results The teaching is satisfactory with some very good teaching in almost all subjects. The headteacher, senior managers and governors are providing a clear sense of purpose, sensible priorities for development and a strong commitment to higher standards. The school provides satisfactory value for money.

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