SchoolScoresMercer's Wood Academy
Academy · Primary, ages 5 to 11 · Mixed
Part of TALL OAKS ACADEMY TRUST LTD
Ropery Road, Gainsborough, DN21 2PD
01427 612572 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 13 September 2022.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
28 pupils in this year group.
29% — 30 points below the Lincolnshire average, and 33 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Lincolnshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 29% | 59% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 54% | 71% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 46% | 71% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 68% | 71% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 100 | 104 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 102 | 104 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Lincolnshire. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 16 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 14 |
| Of those, offered a place | 14 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 38 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.9
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Lincolnshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 2nd highest of 18 state primary schools in Gainsborough. Higher than 100% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 74.6% | 29.9%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 4th highest of 18 state primary schools in Gainsborough. Higher than 85% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.7% | 4.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 6th highest of 18 state primary schools in Gainsborough. Higher than 80% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 19.8% | 14.5%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 7th highest of 18 state primary schools in Gainsborough. Higher than 34% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.1% | 13.0%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 18th lowest of 18 state primary schools in Gainsborough. Lower than 1% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 9.3% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 18th lowest of 18 state primary schools in Gainsborough. Lower than 1% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 31.4% | 12.2%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 18th lowest of 18 state primary schools in Gainsborough. Lower than 0% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 45.2 | 3.5 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 18th lowest of 18 state primary schools in Gainsborough. Lower than 0% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 14.1% | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded3 pupils | 1.69% | 0.07% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 13th highest of 18 state primary schools in Gainsborough. Higher than 16% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 16.9 | 19.9 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 8th highest of 18 state primary schools in Gainsborough. Higher than 17% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 8.7 | 9.6 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 1st highest of 17 state primary schools in Gainsborough. Higher than 100% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 65.7% | 13.4%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- The Gainsborough Parish Church Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 expected, 1 needs attention · 49% met expected standard (KS2)
- Handel House Preparatory School 0.5 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Castle Wood Academy 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 40% met expected standard (KS2)
- Morton Trentside Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2023 · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- White's Wood Academy 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 30% met expected standard (KS2)
- The Gainsborough Hillcrest Early Years Academy 1.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
- The Gainsborough Charles Baines Community Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Benjamin Adlard Primary School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 strong, 1 expected · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- St George's CofE Community Primary School, Gainsborough 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 40% met expected standard (KS2)
- Beckingham Primary School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 29% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Mercer's Wood Academy's Ofsted rating?
Mercer's Wood Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 13 September 2022.
How did Mercer's Wood Academy do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 29% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 33 points below the England average of 62%.
Is Mercer's Wood Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 14 families put Mercer's Wood Academy as their first choice for 16 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 14 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 139332.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.