Mercia School
About Mercia School
Mercia School is a mixed secondary in Sheffield, part of the local authority’s 33-strong state secondary landscape. It currently ranks 11th out of 29 schools in Sheffield by Progress 8 score, placing it in the top half of the LA. The top-performing peers nearby are High Storrs School, King Ecgbert School and Tapton School, the latter being the nearest Outstanding-rated school at just over three kilometres away. Mercia itself was graded Requires Improvement in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2025, though inspectors judged behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management all as Good. The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 161 applications for 103 places, with 77 first-preference offers made. It has a notably high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 41.3%, well above the national average, and its capacity of 750 is exceeded by its current roll of 1,046 pupils.
Key Details
The full report on this school
What 31 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
1 Jul 2025From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.
Source: Ofsted, 16 Sept 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
11Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
School day
Teaching hours
08:20 – 17:00
Breakfast club
07:30-08:15
Source: merciaschool.com. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Mercia School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications