Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #24 in Bristol, City of public Top 61% UK

Merchants' Academy

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

personMr Brendan Hesketh

corporate_fareVENTURERS TRUST

location_onBristol, BS13 9AJ

language Visit Website phone 1173015000

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2020

groups

Students

1,303

trending_up

Progress 8

-1.28

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#27 in Bristol, City of

#3,789 of 4,676 nationally

summarize

Merchants' Academy is a Academy sponsor led secondary school in Bristol, serving ages 3-18. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards. Pupils make below-average progress (Progress 8: -1.28).

article

School Summary

Merchants' Academy is an academy sponsor led in Bristol, Bristol, City of, admitting pupils aged 3-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of VENTURERS TRUST. The school has approximately 1,303 pupils on roll.

In 2024, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 26.6, placing the school #27 in Bristol, City of and #3,789 of 4,676 nationally. Progress 8 was -1.28 — below-average pupil progress.

In 2024, 26% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 5% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #96 of 38 primaries in Bristol, City of and #14,564 of 4,676 nationally.

A-level value added: -0.32 — students made below-average progress at sixth form.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2020. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Requires improvement, behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement, personal development Good, and leadership and management Requires improvement.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 19.6:1. There are no current teaching vacancies. Teacher turnover in the previous year was 41.8%.

In the 2023/24 academic year, there were 10 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 8.4 per 1,000 pupils per term.

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

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2024

Progress 8 Score

-1.28

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

26.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc13.10%

EBacc APS2.17

2023

Progress 8 Score

-1.23

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

29.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc8%

EBacc APS2.27

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.82

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

36.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc10%

EBacc APS2.8

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc30%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.68

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

33.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc33%

EBacc APS2.8

2018

Progress 8 Score

-1.14

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

35.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc27%

EBacc APS3.09

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

85%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)78%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)13%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)80%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)80%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

87%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)80%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)12%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2024

A-Level Value Added

-0.32

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate71.40%

2023

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate100.00%

2022

Avg Grade

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

26%

LA 53%England 61%

Reading37% LA 67% · Eng 74%

Writing47% LA 63% · Eng 72%

Maths30% LA 64% · Eng 73%

Read SS

100

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 51%England 60%

Reading43% LA 66% · Eng 73%

Writing19% LA 62% · Eng 71%

Maths16% LA 63% · Eng 73%

Read SS

100

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-6.6

Read

LA -0.6

-8.3 to -5.0

-8.6

Write

LA -1.1

-10.2 to -7.0

-8.6

Maths

LA -1.2

-10.2 to -7.0

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

50%

LA 61%England 65%

Reading55% LA 68% · Eng 73%

Writing73% LA 74% · Eng 78%

Maths77% LA 74% · Eng 79%

Read SS

Maths SS

103

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

-3.5

Read

LA 0.1

-6.1 to -0.8

0.7

Write

LA 0.1

-1.7 to 3.1

-0.6

Maths

LA -0.1

-2.9 to 1.7

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

50%

LA 58%

Reading66% LA 69%

Writing56% LA 72%

Maths72% LA 69%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

103

GPS SS

104

Progress (0 = national avg)

-2.6

Read

LA -0.3

-4.7 to -0.5

-3.1

Write

LA 0.2

-5.1 to -1.1

-1.2

Maths

LA -0.3

-3.1 to 0.7

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

31 August 2024

Inspection Report

19 March 2024

Inspection Report

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26 February 2020

Inspection Report

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24 September 2019

Inspection Report

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13 February 2019

Inspection Report

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17 October 2018

Inspection Report

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11 April 2018

Inspection Report

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19 September 2017

Inspection Report

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08 May 2014

Inspection Report

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08 June 2011

Inspection Report

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09 June 2010

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

6 Evaluations

2020-02-26

Special Measures S5 ReInspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2019-02-13

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2018-10-17

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2018-04-11

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2017-09-19

Maintained Academy and School Short inspection Legacy

Inadequate

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Inadequate

2014-05-08

None Legacy

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

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

Suspension Rate

0.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.4% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.0%(0 pupils)

Summer term 2024

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

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 8.417% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Summer term of 2024, this school served a headcount of 1,247 pupils. During this period, there were 0 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.0%, which is below the termly national average of 7.4%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,247	0	0.0%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,279	0	0.0%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,328	336	25.3%	8.2%	10
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,285	130	10.1%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,303	142	10.9%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,302	69	5.3%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,254	65	5.2%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,268	56	4.4%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,288	53	4.1%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,240	50	4.0%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,192	11	0.9%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,185	105	8.9%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,165	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,165	44	3.8%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,172	60	5.1%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,115	28	2.5%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,095	45	4.1%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,092	93	8.5%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,045	92	8.8%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,059	32	3.0%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,071	103	9.6%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,057	200	18.9%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,061	175	16.5%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,069	72	6.7%	3.1%	0

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

health_and_safety

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.

85.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

80.0%Positive

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

39.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree23%

agree54%

disagree4%

strongly disagree12%

don't know8%

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

strongly agree31%

agree38%

disagree12%

strongly disagree15%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree31%

agree35%

disagree8%

strongly disagree15%

not applicable12%

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 agree31%

agree58%

disagree4%

strongly disagree4%

don't know4%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree38%

agree50%

disagree4%

strongly disagree8%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree27%

agree42%

disagree19%

strongly disagree8%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree31%

agree58%

disagree8%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree27%

agree58%

don't know15%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree19%

agree54%

disagree12%

strongly disagree8%

don't know8%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes77%

no23%

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) 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

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

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.

Funding & Staffing

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Bristol, City of

Redland Green School

E-Act Montpelier High School

Bristol Free School

St Bede's Catholic College

Bristol Cathedral Choir School

St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School