Merlin Top Primary Academy

About Merlin Top Primary Academy

Merlin Top Primary Academy is a primary school in Keighley, Bradford, classified by the DfE as a sponsor-led academy. Around 331 pupils aged 3 to 11 attend the school. 82% of its pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of Key Stage 2, well above the national average (national figure: 61%). The proportion reaching the expected standard has risen by 12.0 percentage points year on year. On our composite score, which combines the DfE attainment measures above, this places it among the top 16% of primary schools in England.

Pupils achieved an average scaled score of 107 in reading and 108 in maths (national averages are about 105 and 104). 11% reached the higher standard across all three subjects (around 8% do so nationally). 98% of the families who made Merlin Top Primary Academy their first choice were offered a Reception place for September 2026, even though the school made at least as many offers as it had first choices - the rest withdrew, moved or fell outside a priority group. In 2026 the furthest child offered a place lived 2.82 miles from the school in a straight line, according to the council's published allocation figures; the distance changes every year with demand. Overall pupil absence was 6.2%. There are about 28.0 pupils per teacher. The school serves a community with above-average levels of disadvantage: about 55% of pupils have been eligible for free school meals in the last six years, compared with roughly 24% nationally — useful context when reading the results above. Merlin Top Primary Academy does not currently have a recent graded Ofsted judgement on record (often the case for newer or recently converted schools), so it is worth asking when its next inspection is expected. This overview is generated automatically from the latest published DfE performance tables and Ofsted data; figures are rounded, and you can check the originals via the official links above.