St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy, Sheffield
St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Sheffield, part of St Clare Catholic Multi Academy Trust. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 43rd-highest of the 144 schools in Sheffield with published results, and 4,602nd of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025, at 101% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2015)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Sheffield (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy in detail
St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "St John Fisher is an aspirational learning community with a strong vision, shared values and a proud Catholic ethos. Our expectations are high and we are ambitious for every child. We work hard to ensure that each can feel happy, safe and loved in school and at home and we aim to inspire them to enjoy and achieve every day."
The school runs after-school care.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 84% of Year 6 pupils at St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 81% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 73% and 72% in Sheffield and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 91% in reading and 88% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy
For September 2026 entry, 33 families put St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy as their first choice and 47 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 4 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy are Birley Spa Primary Academy (0.3 miles, Requires improvement, 65% reading, 78% maths); Rainbow Forge Primary Academy (0.7 miles, Good, 61% reading, 45% maths); Woodhouse West Primary School (0.8 miles, 69% reading, 63% maths); and Birley Primary Academy (0.9 miles, Good, 77% reading, 73% maths).
St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
Birley Spa Primary AcademyRainbow Forge Primary AcademyWoodhouse West Primary SchoolBirley Primary Academy
The trust
St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy is one of 13 schools run by St Clare Catholic Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 67% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
What parents say
55 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy (as of September 2025): 98% would recommend the school, 98% say their child is happy there and 85% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school has high expectations for their child (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (85%).
Who goes there
In 2026, 36 pupils (18.2%) received SEN support and 4 (2%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Hackenthorpe Platform to Halfway, about 220 metres away (roughly a 3-minute walk).
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Birley Spa Lane/Spring Water Avenue (adjacent), 180 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy issued 1 suspension, 0.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy are The Birley Academy (0.9 miles), Outwood Academy City (1 mile), Handsworth Grange Community Sports College (1.7 miles) and Westfield School (1.8 miles).
The Birley AcademyOutwood Academy CityHandsworth Grange Community Sports CollegeWestfield School
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; 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
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from May 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
St John Fisher creates a warm, supportive environment where children thrive academically and personally. The school excels in teaching reading and writing, with particularly impressive creative writing. Staff make thoughtful adjustments to help all learners, including those with additional needs, succeed alongside their peers.
Key Strengths
- Highly effective phonics teaching that helps pupils become confident, fluent readers
- Strong writing programme where pupils produce precise, imaginative and emotionally impactful creative writing
- Excellent support for pupils with SEND through well-informed curriculum adjustments and resources
- Positive behaviour strategies that empower pupils to make thoughtful choices and reflect on their decisions
- Rich opportunities for personal, social and emotional development with embedded British values
Areas for Improvement
- Checks on pupils' understanding are not consistently effective across all subjects, meaning some gaps in knowledge are not identified clearly enough
- The school should develop more consistent approaches to assessing pupils' learning across the curriculum
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with leaders, staff and pupils maintaining an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Extra-curricular clubs, inter-school competitions, charity events including bake sales, school council, eco-councillor roles, nature area development with pond
St John Fisher Primary is a Catholic Voluntary Academy where pupils are safe, happy and valued, with staff deeply invested in their academic and pastoral development. The school has maintained good standards and continues to help pupils achieve very well.
At a Glance
20.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
55 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 91% to 84% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 88% to 81% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 88% to 84% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.4
Avg class size
23.0
Infant (KS1)
30.3
KS2
5
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy.
- Jpac Ltd At St John Fisher Catholic Primary SchoolAt the school · Not yet graded
- JPAC Lat At Birley Spa Primary Academy500m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Sheffield's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy is in Sheffield; for families living there:
- Sheffield's school travel policy: Home to School Travel and Transport Policy September 2023
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 17
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 5
- Children hurt
- 6
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, 5 serious and 12 slight.
6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise.
3 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 Sheffield is 17 (the median across 193 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 St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy
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What the report includes for St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Sheffield, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Sheffield 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
101%
Over capacity
211 pupils
210 places
1 pupil over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Sheffield
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Sheffield
Across Sheffield council
Places available
6,785
Applications
5,415
Got 1st preference
95.1%
Got preferred school
98.9%
All primary applications across Sheffield council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(4)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
36
SEN Support
4
EHC Plans
20.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
198
Total Pupils
97
Boys
101
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
11
Teachers
18.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,915
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,369
Per pupil
£1270k
Total funding
£62k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.8%
Overall absence
7.7%
Persistent absence
183
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
St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy
Questions parents ask about St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy
What are SATs results like at St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy?
Of the pupils at St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 84% reached the expected standard in reading and 81% did so in maths.
What is St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy's Ofsted rating?
St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2015, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy?
No fixed boundary. When St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy is oversubscribed, Sheffield allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy?
St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy was full in 2025, at 100% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy?
Classes at St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy average 27.4 pupils (2025/26). 2 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy?
St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy has around 198 pupils on roll. 20% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy?
3.8% of sessions were missed at St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy in 2024/25. 7.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy?
Apply through Sheffield's coordinated admissions process, naming St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy 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 St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Jpac Ltd At St John Fisher Catholic Primary School (registered, not yet graded). There is another within a kilometre. The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy?
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, 5 serious and 12 slight. 6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise. 3 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 Sheffield is 17 (the median across 193 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy?
St John Fisher Primary, A Catholic Voluntary Academy is at Spring Water Avenue, Hackenthorpe, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S12 4HJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)