Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #50 in St. Helens public Top 98% UK

Merton Bank Primary School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMrs Rebecca King

location_onSt Helens, WA9 1EJ

language Visit Website phone 174422104

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

219

school

Expected Standard

28%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

0.8x

summarize

Merton Bank Primary School is a Community school primary school in St Helens, serving ages 3-11. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards. Ranks in the top 98% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

Merton Bank Primary School is a community school in St Helens, St. Helens, admitting pupils aged 3-11. The school has approximately 218 pupils on roll, of whom 55% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 28% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined. The school ranks #50 of 52 primaries in St. Helens and #13,431 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Requires improvement, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.8× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.4:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 7.6 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

28%

LA 60%

Reading41% LA 73%

Writing62% LA 73%

Maths45% LA 71%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

41%

LA 60%England 61%

Reading55% LA 73% · Eng 74%

Writing69% LA 73% · Eng 72%

Maths45% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Read SS

101

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

52%

LA 61%England 60%

Reading63% LA 73% · Eng 73%

Writing72% LA 72% · Eng 71%

Maths57% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-0.5

Read

LA 0.3

-2.8 to 1.8

2.6

Write

LA 0.3

0.3 to 4.8

-3.0

Maths

LA 0.0

-5.1 to -0.8

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

68%

LA 65%England 65%

Reading73% LA 73% · Eng 73%

Writing86% LA 79% · Eng 78%

Maths77% LA 77% · Eng 79%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

0.9

Read

LA 0.0

-1.9 to 3.7

1.7

Write

LA 0.1

-0.8 to 4.3

0.7

Maths

LA 0.1

-1.8 to 3.1

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

38%

LA 62%

Reading38% LA 73%

Writing76% LA 78%

Maths62% LA 74%

Read SS

100

Maths SS

100

GPS SS

102

Progress (0 = national avg)

-3.7

Read

LA -0.4

-6 to -1.4

1.7

Write

LA 0.0

-0.4 to 3.8

-2.7

Maths

LA -0.6

-4.8 to -0.6

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

08 May 2024

Inspection Report

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03 November 2022

Inspection Report

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20 June 2017

Inspection Report

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13 May 2015

Inspection Report

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16 June 2011

Inspection Report

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25 March 2009

Inspection Report

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10 December 2008

Inspection Report

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01 July 2008

Inspection Report

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11 March 2008

Inspection Report

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27 November 2007

Inspection Report

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25 June 2007

Inspection Report

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10 June 2002

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2024-05-08

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2017-06-20

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2015-05-13

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

4.1%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

2.3%(5 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 218 pupils. During this period, there were 9 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 4.1%, which is above the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	218	9	4.1%	0.8%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	208	23	11.1%	0.9%	1
2023/24 (Summer term)	226	12	5.3%	0.8%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	217	4	1.8%	0.7%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	216	11	5.1%	0.8%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	221	13	5.9%	0.7%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	219	7	3.2%	0.6%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	214	8	3.7%	0.6%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	222	2	0.9%	0.5%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	209	6	2.9%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	209	4	1.9%	0.5%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	214	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	216	0	0.0%	0.1%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	211	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	218	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	218	3	1.4%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	211	6	2.8%	0.6%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	218	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	220	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	210	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	215	1	0.5%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	216	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	213	2	0.9%	0.5%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	219	1	0.5%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	216	1	0.5%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	213	1	0.5%	0.5%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Speech, Language & Communication 18 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 7 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 6 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 4 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 3 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 2 pupils

Visual Impairment 1 pupils

Physical Disability 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

90.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

79.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

32.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree42%

agree32%

disagree16%

strongly disagree5%

don't know5%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree32%

agree42%

disagree26%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree42%

agree26%

disagree11%

strongly disagree5%

don't know5%

not applicable11%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree58%

agree21%

strongly disagree5%

don't know16%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree58%

agree21%

disagree11%

strongly disagree5%

don't know5%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree47%

agree32%

disagree5%

strongly disagree5%

don't know11%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree53%

agree21%

don't know26%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree37%

agree32%

disagree11%

strongly disagree16%

don't know5%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree47%

agree32%

disagree5%

strongly disagree5%

don't know11%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes89%

no11%

Top Primary Schools in St. Helens

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

St Aidan's CofE Primary School Billinge

Requires improvement

location_on Wigan, WN5 7LS

emoji_events #1 in LA

St Bartholomew's Catholic Primary School

Good

location_on Prescot, L35 6NN

emoji_events #2 in LA

St Mary & St Thomas CofE Primary School

Outstanding

location_on St Helens, WA10 2HS

emoji_events #3 in LA

St John Vianney Catholic Primary School

Good

location_on St Helens, WA9 5BT

emoji_events #4 in LA

Willow Tree Primary School

Requires improvement

location_on St Helens, WA9 4LZ

emoji_events #5 in LA

Queen's Park CofE/Urc Primary School

Good

location_on St Helens, WA10 4NQ

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in St. Helens arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in St. Helens

St Aidan's CofE Primary School Billinge

St Bartholomew's Catholic Primary School

St Mary & St Thomas CofE Primary School

St John Vianney Catholic Primary School

Willow Tree Primary School

Queen's Park CofE/Urc Primary School