Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery, Norwich
Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 7 in Norwich. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2025 did not change this grade. It was 91% full in 2025.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2019)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Norfolk (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery in detail
Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery in its own words
In its own words: "Our community supports our children to accept new challenges and be resilient in the face of adversity; to have humour, a willingness to laugh and be graceful in difficult situations. We will open doors to opportunity and eyes to possibility - unlocking curious minds with knowledge that will allow our children to achieve excellence and realise their ambitions."
The school runs after-school care until 5:30pm.
Vision and values (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Getting a place at Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery
For September 2026 entry, 33 families put Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery as their first choice and 124 named it as one of their preferences, for 42 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery are Cecil Gowing Infant School (0.4 miles, Good); Falcon Junior School (0.4 miles, Good, 67% reading, 65% maths); Sprowston Junior School (0.5 miles, Good, 57% reading, 56% maths); and Sprowston Infant School (0.5 miles, Good).
Cecil Gowing Infant SchoolFalcon Junior SchoolSprowston Junior SchoolSprowston Infant School
What parents say
17 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery (as of September 2025): 82% would recommend the school, 94% say their child is happy there and 80% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (94%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (80%).
Who goes there
10.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 17 pupils (9%) received SEN support and 14 (7.4%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Norwich Rail Station, about 2.3 miles away in a straight line.
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Blenheim Road (opposite), 220 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 98 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Norfolk (28), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery issued 6 suspensions, 2.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery are Sprowston Community Academy (0.4 miles) and The Open Academy (0.9 miles).
Sources: DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from November 2019, 6 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This is a calm, happy school where pupils achieve well and develop confidence in their learning. Staff teach important foundational skills like phonics and writing clearly, with excellent support for any child who falls behind. The school also excels at supporting children with additional needs and preparing all pupils for life beyond the classroom through character education and leadership opportunities.
Key Strengths
- Strong phonics and reading programme with targeted interventions to help struggling readers become confident and fluent
- Excellent support for pupils with SEND, with early identification and tailored provision enabling them to access the full curriculum
- High-quality early years provision with expert staff who develop children's communication and fine motor skills
- Calm, positive school culture with consistent behaviour expectations and celebration of pupils' achievements
- Well-designed curriculum that is clearly organised for all year groups with regular assessment of pupil progress
Areas for Improvement
- Some teachers are still developing expertise in teaching certain subjects, which means their task choices do not always deepen pupils' understanding
- The school should ensure all staff have the skills to make informed task choices that strengthen progression across all subjects
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with the school creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Educational visits, community events, visitor sessions on safety and animal care, science ambassador roles
Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery has maintained its outstanding standards, with pupils achieving well and the school providing a calm, positive learning environment. The school has strengthened its quality assurance processes and continues to support all pupils, including those with special educational needs.
At a Glance
10.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
17 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Class Sizes
27.2
Avg class size
27.2
Infant (KS1)
6
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery
From Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery.
- Premier Sparhawk Wrap Around CareAt the school · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery is in Norfolk; for families living there:
Apply to Norfolk for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 17
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 6
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 17 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 11 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot.
7 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Norfolk is 4 (the median across 462 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery
Will you get a place at Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Norfolk, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Norfolk got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
91%
Near capacity
164 pupils
180 places
16 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Norwich
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Norwich
Across Norfolk council
Places available
9,547
Applications
7,482
Got 1st preference
94.4%
Got preferred school
98.7%
All primary applications across Norfolk council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(7)
Ungraded inspection: Standards have been maintained.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
17
SEN Support
14
EHC Plans
16.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
188
Total Pupils
102
Boys
86
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
10
Teachers
18.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£42,212
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,532
Per pupil
£1018k
Total funding
£32k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.2%
Overall absence
2.6%
Persistent absence
117
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery
Questions parents ask about Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery
What is Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery's Ofsted rating?
Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2019, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery?
No fixed boundary. When Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery is oversubscribed, Norfolk allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery?
Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery was not full in 2025: it ran at 91% of its 180 places.
How big are the classes at Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery?
Classes at Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery average 27.2 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery?
Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery has around 188 pupils on roll. 10% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery?
4.2% of sessions were missed at Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery in 2024/25. 2.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery?
Apply through Norfolk's coordinated admissions process, naming Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Premier Sparhawk Wrap Around Care (registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 17 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 11 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot. 7 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Norfolk is 4 (the median across 462 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery?
Sparhawk Infant School & Nursery is at Sparhawk Avenue, Sprowston, Norwich, Norfolk, NR7 8BU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)