SchoolScoresMercia School
Free school · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form
Part of MERCIA LEARNING TRUST
Carter Knowle Road, Sheffield, S7 2DY
0114 553 9080 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 8 February 2023.
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 | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
172 pupils in this year group.
83% — 41 points above the Sheffield average, and 37 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Sheffield | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 83% | 42% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 68.1 | 43.2 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 6.7 | 3.8 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
118 pupils in this year group.
97% — 8 points above the Sheffield average, and 5 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Sheffield | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 97% | 89% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 73% | 36% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 2% | 8% | 13% |
| Further education college | 19% | 38% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 0% | 2% | 3% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25
60 A level students in this year group.
| Measure | This school | Sheffield | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average A level grade | B+ | C+ | B- |
| A level exams graded A* or A | 46% | 28% | 26% |
| A level exams graded A* to B | 72% | 55% | 53% |
| Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. | 42.1 | 35.0 | 35 |
A level subjects, 2024/25
15 subjects, 190 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.
| Subject | Exams | A* | A* or A | England A* or A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 41 | 20% | 44% | 40% |
| Chemistry | 34 | 6% | 26% | 30% |
| Biology | 30 | 13% | 33% | 27% |
| English Literature | 11 | 64% | 64% | 23% |
| Economics | 9 | 33% | 78% | 26% |
| Mathematics (Further) | 9 | 0% | 56% | 59% |
| Psychology | 9 | 33% | 67% | 19% |
| French | 8 | 0% | 25% | 38% |
| Physics | 8 | 13% | 63% | 31% |
| Geography | 7 | 14% | 43% | 23% |
| Government and Politics | 6 | 50% | 67% | 26% |
Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: History, Religious Studies, Art and Design (Fine Art), Computer Studies / Computing.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 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 Sheffield. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about 2 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 194 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 385 |
| Of those, offered a place | 187 (49%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 1,060 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.8 · 2025: 2.0 · 2026: 2.0
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 | Sheffield | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 24th highest of 31 state secondary schools in Sheffield. Higher than 43% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 24.3% | 34.1%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 25th highest of 31 state secondary schools in Sheffield. Higher than 27% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.0% | 2.9%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 16th highest of 31 state secondary schools in Sheffield. Higher than 55% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 14.3% | 14.1%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 9th highest of 31 state secondary schools in Sheffield. Higher than 80% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 31.2% | 22.7%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 1st lowest of 30 state secondary schools in Sheffield. Lower than 99% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 4.1% | 9.3%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 1st lowest of 30 state secondary schools in Sheffield. Lower than 93% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 11.9% | 24.9%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 6th lowest of 31 state secondary schools in Sheffield. Lower than 77% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 6.6 | 35.9 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 6th lowest of 31 state secondary schools in Sheffield. Lower than 74% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 4.0% | 10.6% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded4 pupils | 0.38% | 0.43% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 31st highest of 31 state secondary schools in Sheffield. Higher than 6% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 13.8 | 17.6 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 7th highest of 31 state secondary schools in Sheffield. Higher than 83% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 13.5 | 12.1 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 19th highest of 31 state secondary schools in Sheffield. Higher than 57% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 14.7% | 15.6%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary 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 secondary schools
- High Storrs School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2022 · 74% grade 5+ English and maths
- Silverdale School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 70% grade 5+ English and maths
- Newfield Secondary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022 · 41% grade 5+ English and maths
- Westbourne School 1.5 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Sheffield High School GDST 1.6 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 66% A*/A at A level
- Birkdale School 1.6 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 51% A*/A at A level
- Notre Dame High School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 54% grade 5+ English and maths
- King Edward VII School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 55% grade 5+ English and maths
- Tapton School and Sixth Form 1.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 68% grade 5+ English and maths
- UTC Sheffield City Centre 2.0 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 23% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Mercia School's Ofsted rating?
Mercia School was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 8 February 2023.
How did Mercia School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 83% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 37 points above the England average of 45%.
Is Mercia School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 385 families put Mercia School as their first choice for 194 places: about 2 first-choice applications for every place. 187 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 145897.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25, A levels 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.