Mereside Primary Academy, Blackpool

In its own words: "We are open 32.5hrs a week for 38 weeks of the year."

From the headteacher's welcome: "At Mereside Nursery, we provide a warm, safe, and stimulating environment where children learn through play, exploration and discovery. We offer dedicated care and education for children aged: We help children develop important life skills every day."

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:35am and after-school care, from £3 per session.

In 2025, 43% of Year 6 pupils at Mereside Primary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 29% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 72% and 70% in Blackpool and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 75% in reading and 61% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 23 families put Mereside Primary Academy as their first choice and 37 named it as one of their preferences, for 24 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Mereside Primary Academy are Stanley Primary School (0.3 miles, 67% reading, 83% maths); Baines' Endowed Church of England Primary Academy (0.8 miles, Good, 69% reading, 72% maths); Marton Primary Academy and Nursery (0.9 miles, Good, 69% reading, 67% maths); and St John Vianney's Catholic Primary School, Blackpool (1.1 miles, 87% reading, 89% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Mereside Primary Academy.

Mereside Primary Academy is one of 10 schools run by Fylde Coast Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 57% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

69.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 7.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The nearest railway station is Blackpool South Rail Station, about 1.8 miles away in a straight line.

14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Borrowdale Avenue (opposite), 50 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Mereside Primary Academy stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Mereside Primary Academy issued 43 suspensions, 15.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Mereside Primary Academy are St George's School A Church of England Academy (0.5 miles), Highfield Leadership Academy (1.4 miles) and South Shore Academy (1.7 miles).