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OpenSecondaryOfsted: OutstandingURN 145897

Mercia School

Free schools · Sheffield · S7 2DY

Ages 11–18 · 1,070 pupils · Sheffield

School website

Ofsted

Outstanding

Attainment 8

69.4

Overall absence

3.3%

Admissions demand

1.83 · Competitive

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Outstanding

Inspection date

2023-02-08

Overall effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8+2.09
−20+2
Attainment 869.4
English & maths grade 5+86%
English & maths grade 4+96%
EBacc entry100%

EBacc APS: 6.9

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence3.3%
Persistent absence (10%+)7.4%
Unauthorised1.1%
Authorised absence
2.1%
Severe absence (50%+)
0.1%
Enrolments in measure
862

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

1.83 · Competitive

1st preferences

347

Places offered

190

1st-preference offers

188

Total preferences (any rank)
921
Preferred offers (top 3)
190
Applications from outside LA
3
Offers to outside-LA applicants
0

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill89%

1,070 pupils · 1,200 places

Pupils on roll
1,070
Boys / girls
503 / 567
School capacity
1,200
Capacity fill
1,070 / 1,200 (89%)
Free school meals
24.4%
FSM pupils
222
Gender
Mixed
School type
Free schools

Age range

Ages 11–18

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth formHas a sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Governance
Academy trust: MERCIA LEARNING TRUST
Academy trust
MERCIA LEARNING TRUST
Sponsor
Mercia Learning Trust
Headteacher
Headteacher Joshua Fisher

Location

Address
Carter Knowle Road
Postcode
S7 2DY
Town
Sheffield
Local authority
Sheffield
District
Sheffield
Constituency
Sheffield Hallam
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed free schools (secondary), Ages 11–18, in Sheffield, Sheffield, 1,070 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form. Free school meals: 24.4%.

Open schools in Sheffield
236
Secondary schools in Sheffield
33
Academies among open schools in Sheffield
62% (147)
Open schools in S7
10
Secondary in S7
1
Open schools in Sheffield LA
194
Secondary in Sheffield LA
28

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in SheffieldNear S7

  • High Storrs School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Sheffield · S11 7LH · Sheffield

    Ages 11–18

    • Att861.1
    • P80.9
    • EM5+78%
    • Absence6.0%

    1.2 miles away

  • Silverdale School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Sheffield · S11 9QH · Sheffield

    Ages 11–18

    • Att857.9
    • P80.6
    • EM5+69%
    • Absence7.1%

    1.4 miles away

  • Newfield Secondary School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Sheffield · S8 9JP · Sheffield

    Ages 11–16

    • Att844.6
    • P8-0.2
    • EM5+38%
    • Absence9.0%

    1.5 miles away

  • Notre Dame High School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Sheffield · S10 3BT · Sheffield

    Ages 11–18

    • Att857.4
    • P80.7
    • EM5+67%
    • Absence6.6%

    1.7 miles away

  • King Edward VII School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Secondary

    Sheffield · S10 2PW · Sheffield

    Ages 11–18

    • Att848.9
    • P8-0.1
    • EM5+54%
    • Absence8.3%

    1.7 miles away

  • Tapton School & Sixth Form

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Sheffield · S10 5RG · Sheffield

    Ages 11–18

    • Att858.4
    • P80.5
    • EM5+71%
    • Absence6.8%

    1.9 miles away

  • UTC Sheffield City Centre

    Ofsted: Not judged

    University technical college · Secondary

    Sheffield · S1 4QF · Sheffield

    Ages 13–19

    • Att840.4
    • P8-1.0
    • EM5+35%
    • Absence9.0%

    2.0 miles away

  • Meadowhead School Academy Trust

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Sheffield · S8 8BR · Sheffield

    Ages 11–18

    • Att846.7
    • P80.0
    • EM5+50%
    • Absence10.0%

    2.0 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Headteacher Joshua Fisher
Telephone
01145539080
Website
www.merciaschool.com

Official links