Mercia School is a mainstream secondary school in Sheffield for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 133 of its 1,070 pupils (12.4%) were getting SEN support and 21 (2%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,070 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Sheffield.
12.4% get SEN support
133 of 1,070 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
2% have an EHC plan
21 of 1,070 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Moderate learning difficulty42
- Social, emotional and mental health35
- Autism27
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia24
- Severe learning difficulty9
- Speech, language and communication5
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Free school
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,070 (places for 1,200)
- Headteacher
- Headteacher Joshua Fisher
- Part of
- Mercia Learning Trust
- Free school meals
- 24.4% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Sheffield
- School reference (URN)
- 145897
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Sheffield council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Outstanding, February 2023
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in February 2023.
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Carter Knowle Road, Sheffield, S7 2DY
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Kenwood Academy Special school · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.7 miles
- Brantwood Garden School Independent · Ages 7–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.9 miles
- Greystones Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.0 mile
- High Storrs School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 1.2 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Carter Knowle Junior School Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 22.6%, EHC plans 4.2% 0.0 miles
- Holt House Infant School Primary · Ages 4–7 · SEN support 13.9%, EHC plans 0.6% 0.2 miles
- Nether Edge Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 10%, EHC plans 4.8% 0.6 miles
All mainstream schools in Sheffield SEND schools in Sheffield
Questions about Mercia School
How many pupils at Mercia School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 133 of the 1,070 pupils (12.4%) were getting SEN support and 21 (2%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Mercia School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are moderate learning difficulties (42 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (35 pupils) and autism (27 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Mercia School?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Mercia School?
Through Sheffield council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Mercia School?
You can ask for Mercia School to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Mercia School have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Greystones Primary School, about 1.0 mile away.
Where is Mercia School?
Carter Knowle Road, Sheffield, S7 2DY, in Sheffield.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.