Merstham Park School

Merstham Park School is performing at the expected standard overall. Pupils’ achievement has improved steadily and is now close to national averages, with disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities achieving at least in line with their peers. Attendance is close to the national average, and pupils are proud of their school, feel safe, and value its strong community, outdoor spaces, clubs, trips and productions. The curriculum is broad and carefully sequenced, with a consistent focus on foundational knowledge and oracy. Inclusion is a notable strength: vulnerable pupils, young carers and pupils with SEND are well supported, and pupil premium funding makes a tangible difference. Leadership and governance are effective, with accurate self-evaluation, targeted improvement planning, supportive trust and governor involvement, and positive views from staff and parents. Safeguarding standards are met. There are still areas for further work. Teaching varies in how consistently staff check pupils’ understanding and address gaps. A small number of pupils remain reluctant to report racist or sexist language, and pupils’ knowledge of democracy and the rule of law is less developed. The school does not meet provider access legislation requirements, Year 10 work experience is mainly online, and pupils’ knowledge of apprenticeship routes needs further development. The school is part of GLF Schools trust and has had a new headteacher and another senior leader since its last inspection.

Strengths

• Pupils’ achievement has improved steadily and is now in line with national averages.
• Disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND achieve at least in line with their peers.
• Attendance remains close to the national average, with individualised support for families.
• Pupils feel safe, are proud of their school and value its strong sense of community.
• Pupils are not worried about bullying and believe issues would be dealt with quickly.
• The curriculum is broad, well sequenced and prioritises foundational knowledge.
• Reading, vocabulary, writing and oracy are a constant focus across the school.
• Inclusion is strong: vulnerable pupils, young carers and pupils with SEND are well known and supported.
• Pupil premium funding makes a tangible difference to disadvantaged pupils’ experiences and outcomes.
• Leaders have a detailed understanding of the school and a targeted, measurable improvement plan.
• Trust leaders and governors share the school’s ambition and provide targeted support.
• Staff are positive about working at the school and value professional development.
• Personal development is systematically developed through lessons, clubs, trips and pastoral support.
• Pupils benefit from an extensive programme of opportunities, including popular sports and other clubs.

Areas for Improvement

• There remains variability in how effectively staff check pupils’ understanding and address gaps in knowledge.
• A small number of pupils are less confident in reporting unwanted behaviour such as racist or sexist language.
• Pupils’ knowledge of democracy and the rule of law is less fully developed.
• The school does not meet the requirements of the provider access legislation for Years 8 to 13.
• Year 10 work experience is principally online, limiting access to high-quality placements.
• Pupils’ knowledge of apprenticeship routes needs further development.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Merstham Park School attended 91.9% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 23.7% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 10.8% of pupils at Merstham Park School were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 3 pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Merstham Park School had 21.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 18.1% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 12.2% of pupils at Merstham Park School were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 5.5% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Merstham Park School received £8,289 and spent £8,254 for each of its 669 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £575,000 (£859 per pupil).

Across all 42 schools of Glf Schools, income was £7,514 and spending £7,514 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Redhill · Surrey local authority: places and applications

Merstham Park School is part of Glf Schools, which runs 43 schools. The nearest others:

• Merstham Primary School Redhill
• Lime Tree Primary School and Nursery Merstham
• Hillcroft Primary School & Nursery Caterham
• de Stafford School Caterham
• Salfords Primary School and Nursery Redhill
• Marden Lodge Primary School and Nursery Caterham
• Whyteleafe Primary School Whyteleafe
• The Beacon School Banstead
• Banstead Infant School and Nursery Banstead
• Warlingham Village Primary School Warlingham

What is Merstham Park School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Merstham Park School is Expected standard, from an inspection in September 2026.

When was Merstham Park School last inspected by Ofsted?

Merstham Park School was last inspected in September 2026.

How many pupils does Merstham Park School have?

Merstham Park School has 711 pupils on roll.

What age range does Merstham Park School cover?

Merstham Park School for pupils aged 11 to 16.

What are Merstham Park School's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 47.4, and 47% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Merstham Park School?

Merstham Park School is at Taynton Drive, Redhill, RH1 3PU.