Ofsted: Outstanding trending_up High Demand emoji_events #1 in Sheffield public Top 2% UK

Mercia School

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

personMr Dean Webster

corporate_fareMERCIA LEARNING TRUST

location_onSheffield, S7 2DY

language Visit Website phone 1145539080

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Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2023

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Students

787

trending_up

Attainment 8

68.1

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GCSE Rank

#1 in Sheffield

#126 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Mercia School is a Free schools secondary school in Sheffield, serving ages 11-18. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade. Highly competitive: 1.8× more applications than places — plan well ahead.

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School Summary

Mercia School is a free schools in Sheffield, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of MERCIA LEARNING TRUST. The school has approximately 1,046 pupils on roll, of whom 24% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 68.1, placing the school #1 in Sheffield and #126 of 3,216 nationally. 82.60% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 53.4% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 15 A-level subjects. 72.1% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 46.3% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.24 — students made below-average progress at sixth form.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Outstanding, behaviour and attitudes Outstanding, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Outstanding.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.8× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 14.6:1. There are 2 teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 2 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 2.2 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)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

68.1

Grade 5+ E&M

82.60%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)53.4%

Entering EBacc100.00%

EBacc APS6.69

2024

Progress 8 Score

2.09

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

69.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc100.00%

EBacc APS6.91

2023

Progress 8 Score

2.24

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

70.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc100%

EBacc APS6.97

2022

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2018

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

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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.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)95%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

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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.

2025

A-Level Value Added

-0.24

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

B+

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*19.5%

Achieving A*–A46.3%

Achieving A*–B72.1%

VA Banding Below average

Retention rate100.0%

A-level subjects offered15

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

08 February 2023

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

1 Evaluations

2023-02-08

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

Outstanding

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Outstanding

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

2.3%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.9%(20 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

2pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,046 pupils. During this period, there were 24 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 2.3%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,046	24	2.3%	7.3%	2
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,048	22	2.1%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	916	20	2.2%	7.4%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	912	14	1.5%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	906	10	1.1%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	782	13	1.7%	6.6%	1
2022/23 (Spring term)	787	11	1.4%	6.4%	2
2022/23 (Autumn term)	786	7	0.9%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	607	8	1.3%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	607	1	0.2%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	611	3	0.5%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	428	1	0.2%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	435	0	0.0%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	434	1	0.2%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	252	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	252	1	0.4%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	252	1	0.4%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	123	0	0.0%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	123	0	0.0%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	124	0	0.0%	3.8%	0

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

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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.

Specific Learning Difficulty 39 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 39 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 32 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 32 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 7 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 7 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 6 pupils

Hearing Impairment 5 pupils

Visual Impairment 2 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.

91.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

98.0%Positive

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

20.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree89%

agree10%

disagree1%

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

strongly agree42%

agree37%

disagree14%

strongly disagree4%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree39%

agree17%

disagree6%

strongly disagree4%

not applicable34%

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

yes19%

no81%

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

strongly agree65%

agree15%

disagree18%

strongly disagree3%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree88%

agree10%

disagree1%

don't know1%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree78%

agree18%

disagree2%

don't know2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree66%

agree29%

disagree4%

strongly disagree1%

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

strongly agree52%

agree36%

disagree10%

strongly disagree2%

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

strongly agree64%

agree29%

disagree4%

don't know3%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree62%

agree24%

disagree8%

strongly disagree3%

don't know3%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes93%

no7%

Top Secondary Schools in Sheffield

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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High Storrs School

Good

location_on Sheffield, S11 7LH

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Tapton School & Sixth Form

Outstanding

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Silverdale School

Good

location_on Sheffield, S11 9QH

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King Ecgbert School

Outstanding

location_on Sheffield, S17 3QU

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Notre Dame High School

Good

location_on Sheffield, S10 3BT

emoji_events #6 in LA

King Edward VII School

Good

location_on Sheffield, S10 2PW

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View all schools in Sheffield arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary 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.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Sheffield

High Storrs School

Tapton School & Sixth Form

Silverdale School

King Ecgbert School

Notre Dame High School

King Edward VII School