Marlborough College
Analysis
Marlborough College is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Marlborough. It was registered in October 1963, 63 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, which this site groups under education and training. It says it provides services and other charitable activities.
In the financial year ending August 2025, Marlborough College reported income of £77.7m and spending of £72.0m, spending 93% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from August 2021 to August 2025, income grew from £52.1m to £77.7m (+49%), an average of +11% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to August 2023, when income rose by 34%. Over the whole period it spent 92% of the income it received.
Among 21,402 England and Wales charities whose main cause is education and training and that reported income, Marlborough College sits at the 100th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 100th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Wellington College (£76.2m), The Mill Hill School Foundation (£79.0m) and Acs International Schools Limited (£75.6m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 87%, investments 3.1%, donations and legacies 2.9% and trading 1.9%. Charitable activities took 90% of spending and raising funds 2.0%. Reserves of £128.8m would cover about 21 months of spending at that rate. It employed 769 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 2.9%
- Charitable activities 87%
- Trading 1.9%
- Investments 3.1%
- Other 5.3%
In the charity's own words
Marlborough College is incorporated by Royal Charter and registered as an education charity. The College provides education for boys and girls for the ages 13-18. The number of pupils in the College averaged 924 of whom 888 were boarders and 36 were day pupils. Under its grant making policy the total number of pupils receiving fee assistance in the academic year 2014/15 was 119.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| The Wellington College | Crowthorne | £76.2m |
| The Mill Hill School Foundation | London | £79.0m |
| Acs International Schools Limited | Cobham | £75.6m |
| The United Westminster and Grey Coat Foundation | London | £80.4m |