Mercia Academy, based in Swadlincote, provides secondary education, serving pupils aged 11 to 16. The school is a academy sponsor led and operates as a mixed school. It follows a non-selective admissions policy. It does not have a designated religious character, which may suit families looking for a non-faith school.
Mercia Academy currently has around 579 pupils on roll, which is about 77% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 52.2% boys and 47.8% girls. Around 41.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which gives an indication of the socio-economic mix. The student population reflects a mixed community across different backgrounds and needs.
Overall absence at the school is 13.9%. Persistent absence is recorded at 38.2%.
The majority of pupils are from a white british background (88.9%).
Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.
| Address: | Sunnyside, Swadlincote, DE11 0TL |
| Website: | www.merciaacademy.org.uk |
| Telephone: | 01283216404 |
| School Type: | Academy sponsor led |
| Education phase: | Secondary |
| Local authority: | Derbyshire |
| Headteacher / Principal: | Mr Nick Holmes |
| Religious character: | Does not apply |
| Admissions policy: | Non-selective |
| Unique reference: | 149380 |
Ofsted inspection date: 01/07/2025
Safeguarding is effective
| Age Range: | 11 - 16 |
| Gender: | Mixed |
| School Capacity: | 750 |
| Number of Pupils: | 579 |
| Number of Boys: | 302 |
| Number of Girls: | 277 |
| School | England state-funded schools: | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall absence: | 13.9% | 4% |
| Persistent absence: | 38.2% | 8.2% |
| White British | 88.90% | 515 |
| Other White | 2.60% | 15 |
| White and Asian | 2.10% | 12 |
| African | 2.10% | 12 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.70% | 4 |
| White and Black African | 0.70% | 4 |
| Caribbean | 0.50% | 3 |
| Unclassified | 0.50% | 3 |
| Other Mixed | 0.30% | 2 |
| Chinese | 0.30% | 2 |
| Other Black | 0.30% | 2 |
| Pakistani | 0.20% | 1 |
| Other Asian | 0.20% | 1 |
| Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage) | 0.20% | 1 |
| Other (any other ethnic group) | 0.20% | 1 |
| Indian | 0.20% | 1 |
| Irish | 0.00% | 0 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.00% | 0 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.00% | 0 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newhall Infant School Sunnyside , Newhall DE11 0TJ | 3out of 4 | 81 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Newhall Junior School Chesterfield Avenue , Newhall DE11 0TR | 2out of 4 | 137 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Newhall Community Junior School Chesterfield Avenue , Newhall DE11 0TR | - not rated | 138 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Fairmeadows Foundation Primary School Fairfield Crescent , Newhall DE11 0SW | 3out of 4 | 904 yd | Foundation school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Elmsleigh Infant and Nursery School Queen's Drive , DE11 0EG | - not rated | 1,477 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercia Academy Sunnyside , Newhall DE11 0TL | - not rated | 0 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| William Allitt School Sunnyside , Newhall DE11 0TL | - not rated | 49 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| The Pingle Academy Coronation Street , DE11 0QA | 3out of 4 | 1,384 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| The Pingle School Coronation Street , DE11 0QA | - not rated | 1,384 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Blessed Robert Sutton Catholic Sports College Bluestone Lane , Stapenhill DE15 9SD | - not rated | 2,663 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Esteem South Academy Memorial Hall , Main Street DE11 0TW | 3out of 4 | 330 yd | Academy alternative provision converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| South Derbyshire Support Centre Memorial Hall , Main Street DE11 0TW | - not rated | 330 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Newhall Support Centre Memorial Hall , Main Street DE11 0TW | - not rated | 332 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Burton PRU Church Hill Street , Winshill DE15 0HR | 3out of 4 | 3,197 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.