SchoolScoresMereside CofE Primary Academy
Academy · Primary, ages 5 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England
Part of ST CHAD'S ACADEMIES TRUST
Mereside, Springfield, Shrewsbury, SY2 6LE
01743 356283 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 17 June 2014. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).
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 |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 20 March 2024: Ofsted found the school was still Good but had some concerns, so its next inspection will be a full graded one.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
70 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025.
Shrewsbury comparisons use the 19 of its 44 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 25 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Shrewsbury | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 18th highest of 19 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Shrewsbury. Higher than 11% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84% | 94% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school 19th highest of 19 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Shrewsbury. Higher than 7% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 81% | 95% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 19th highest of 19 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Shrewsbury. Higher than 5% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 64% | 90% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 24 parents whose child had been bullied 10th highest of 12 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Shrewsbury. Higher than 29% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 46% | 54% | 50% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 58 parents who had raised a concern 17th highest of 19 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Shrewsbury. Higher than 13% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 66% | 82% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 18th highest of 19 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Shrewsbury. Higher than 8% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 69%said yes | 91% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Shrewsbury figures pool parents at the Shrewsbury schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
45 pupils in this year group.
67% — 9 points above the Shropshire average, and 5 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Shropshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 67% | 58% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 7% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 82% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 82% | 71% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 69% | 71% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 103 | 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 Shropshire. 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 about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 51 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 48 |
| Of those, offered a place | 48 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 102 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.8 · 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.
This is a Church of England school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Shropshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 19th highest of 44 state primary schools in Shrewsbury. Higher than 40% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 17.6% | 18.6%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 18th highest of 44 state primary schools in Shrewsbury. Higher than 75% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.5% | 3.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 42nd highest of 44 state primary schools in Shrewsbury. Higher than 10% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 7.8% | 12.9%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 19th highest of 44 state primary schools in Shrewsbury. Higher than 38% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.9% | 6.0%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 17th lowest of 44 state primary schools in Shrewsbury. Lower than 65% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.5% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 27th lowest of 44 state primary schools in Shrewsbury. Lower than 42% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 13.0% | 11.4%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 35th lowest of 43 state primary schools in Shrewsbury. Lower than 26% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 3.1 | 1.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 36th lowest of 43 state primary schools in Shrewsbury. Lower than 19% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.0% | 0.9% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 7th highest of 44 state primary schools in Shrewsbury. Higher than 88% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 24.4 | 20.8 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 3rd highest of 44 state primary schools in Shrewsbury. Higher than 85% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 13.2 | 10.0 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 23rd highest of 39 state primary schools in Shrewsbury. Higher than 26% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 6.3% | 12.1%* | 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
- St Giles CofE Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 42% met expected standard (KS2)
- Crowmoor Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Inadequate (2023, before conversion)
- Coleham Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 75% met expected standard (KS2)
- Belvidere Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 44% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Winefride's RC Independent School 1.4 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Meole Brace CofE Primary School and Nursery 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015, before conversion), confirmed 2019 · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- Wilfred Owen Primary School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 69% met expected standard (KS2)
- Shrewsbury Cathedral Catholic Primary School and Nursery 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015, before conversion) · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- The Martin Wilson School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023, before conversion) · 48% met expected standard (KS2)
- Greenfields Primary School 2.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 81% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Mereside CofE Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?
Mereside CofE Primary Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 17 June 2014. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 20 March 2024, Ofsted found the school was still Good but had some concerns, so its next inspection will be a full graded one.
How did Mereside CofE Primary Academy do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 67% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 5 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Mereside CofE Primary Academy?
69% of the 70 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025 said they would recommend Mereside CofE Primary Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Mereside CofE Primary Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 48 families put Mereside CofE Primary Academy as their first choice for 51 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 48 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 147106.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 1 January 2024 to 6 January 2025.
- 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.