Mercia Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 1 July 2025

The school has been through a challenging period of change and upheaval in recent years, following the closure of the school building in November 2023. At the time of this inspection pupils were being taught in purpose-built temporary accommodation. Nevertheless, through the highly effective support provided by the trust, the school is making sure that pupils now have a better experience of school life. The quality of education provided by the school has improved. However, the curriculum is not delivered consistently well. As a result, pupils do not progress through the curriculum as well as they should. The school has raised its expectations for pupils' behaviour and conduct. Pupils understand these expectations. Most pupils behave well. They appreciate being rewarded and recognised for meeting the school's expectations. They feel safe in school and know they have an adult they can talk to if needed. There are respectful relationships between staff and pupils. Most pupils are polite and respectful. The school provides a range of opportunities for pupils to develop their talents and interests. For example, pupils enjoy attending performing arts clubs, as well as clubs for football, badminton and board games. Many pupils in key stage 4 enjoy taking part in The Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme.

What the school should improve

• There are inconsistencies in how the curriculum is delivered. Sometimes, new topics are not explained clearly. Furthermore, checks on pupils' learning are not completed consistently well. This means that gaps in pupils' learning and misconceptions are not identified or addressed effectively. Consequently, pupils do not learn as well as they should. The school should ensure that teachers explain new learning clearly. It should also ensure that teachers check pupils' understanding well so that gaps in learning and misconceptions can be identified and resolved.
• Teaching does not always help pupils, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds, in producing high-quality work. Some pupils make basic errors with punctuation and grammar. Furthermore, some do not complete work in sufficient detail. As a result, some pupils do not achieve as well as they should. The school should ensure that teachers support pupils to write accurately and produce high-quality work in all subjects.
• The attendance of some pupils is too low. As a result, they miss out on learning. The school should continue to embed effective approaches and processes for securing good attendance, to ensure that improvements are sustained.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)