Mercia Academy, Swadlincote
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Mercia Academy provides a safe, respectful environment where most pupils behave well and feel supported. The school excels at identifying which pupils need extra help with reading and provides targeted support that really works. Staff are well-trained and proud to work at the school, which is making steady progress after a difficult period.
Key Strengths
- Strong focus on reading with effective support for pupils who need extra help developing reading skills
- Clear identification of pupils with special educational needs and good curriculum planning
- Significant improvements in pupil attendance through careful tracking and family support
- Well-developed programme for broader development covering online safety, healthy relationships, and British values
- Supportive school culture with respectful relationships between staff and pupils
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistent delivery of the curriculum with some new topics not explained clearly enough
- Checks on pupil learning not thorough enough, missing gaps in knowledge and misconceptions
- Teaching does not consistently help pupils produce high-quality work, with basic errors in punctuation and grammar not always addressed
- Some pupils have low attendance despite school efforts
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with the school maintaining proper systems and creating a positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Performing arts clubs, football, badminton, board games, Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme
Mercia Academy is a secondary school that has faced significant challenges following its building closure in November 2023, but is now improving with strong support from its trust. The quality of education requires improvement, though behaviour, personal development, and leadership are all rated as good.
At a Glance
48.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
31 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Class Sizes
24.7
Avg class size
18
Total classes
3 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
79%
Available places
592 pupils
750 capacity
158 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Swadlincote
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Swadlincote
Admissions Demand - Derbyshire
Places available
8,811
Applications
7,963
Got 1st preference
95.4%
Got preferred school
99.1%
Secondary admissions across Derbyshire (2025/26)
Inspection History
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
13.07697%
Overall absence
36.34945%
Persistent absence
641
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Mercia Academy
Newhall Infant School
Newhall Junior School
Fairmeadows Foundation Primary School
Elmsleigh Infant & Nursery School
St Edward's Catholic Academy
Springfield Junior School
Stanton Primary School
Belmont Primary School
Pennine Way Junior Academy
Church Gresley Infant and Nursery School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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