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Sheffield’s-own Mercia School has been rated the number one school in the country for the progress of disadvantaged pupils.

The Department for Education has published its 'league tables' for how the country's schools performed in 2022/23.

Known as the 'Progress 8' scores, they track how pupils have improved KS2 at the end of primary school and Key Stage 4, when they sit their GCSEs.

The best performing school in Sheffield for 2022-2023 was Mercia School. Still celebrating from its 'Outstanding' Ofsted rating this year, the academy's pupils earned a 'well above average' score of +2.22. For comparison, the second best performing school in Sheffield scored +0.79, placing Mercia well and truly top of the pile. The school was also the best performing in the entire country for how much progress its disadvantaged pupils made.

Now, it has emerged Mercia School has been named number one out of 6,951 secondary schools in the whole country for the overall performance of disadvantaged pupils - and third place for progress overall.

Headteacher Dean Webster said: "We are ecstatic to see these results.

"The pupils have performed incredibly well and shown real dedication toward their studies. They have remarkable character and work extremely hard. Their families have also been very supportive of our mission from day one.

"London is the area where the best results usually are, there is a north/south divide in education.

"Through these results we have shown schools in the north are capable of competing. We hope we have inspired others to achieve the same.

"Mercia drives social mobility and everything we do aims to give children from all backgrounds the opportunity to succeed."

Mr Webster said the results were down to hard work across the board and the school’s high expectations of pupils.

He added: "Our teachers are incredibly talented and have worked tirelessly, supporting all pupils to achieve.

"Through a combination of a knowledge rich curriculum and high expectations our pupils thrive. We expect pupils to behave so teachers can teach, at Mercia we do this exceptionally well. Mercia Collegiate Sixth Form has the same ethos and culture of achievement."

For Progress 8 figures, pupils are defined as disadvantaged if they are known to have been eligible for free school meals in the last six years.

Children recorded as looked after or who have been adopted are also classed as disadvantaged.

Mercia School is part of the Mercia Learning Trust. Mercia Collegiate Sixth Form has an open event on Thursday November 23 between 6-8pm.

Mercia School: Sheffield academy named number one in England for progress of disadvantaged pupils