SchoolScoresSparhawk Infant School and Nursery
Community school · Primary, ages 3 to 7 · Mixed · Nursery class
Sparhawk Avenue, Sprowston, Norwich, NR7 8BU
01603 406406 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 13 November 2019.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 26 February 2025: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
17 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Norwich comparisons use the 94 of its 142 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 48 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Norwich | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 49th highest of 94 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Norwich. Higher than 41% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 93% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 50th highest of 94 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Norwich. Higher than 39% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 93% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 28th highest of 94 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Norwich. Higher than 62% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 86% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 14 parents who had raised a concern Joint 67th highest of 91 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Norwich. Higher than 20% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 71% | 80% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 64th highest of 94 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Norwich. Higher than 23% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 82%said yes | 87% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 8%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Norwich figures pool parents at the Norwich schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Norfolk. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 42 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 33 |
| Of those, offered a place | 33 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 124 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 0.8
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Norfolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 107th highest of 142 state primary schools in Norwich. Higher than 26% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 12.7% | 23.9%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 23rd highest of 142 state primary schools in Norwich. Higher than 89% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 6.3% | 4.1%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 127th highest of 142 state primary schools in Norwich. Higher than 16% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 9.3% | 15.3%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 47th highest of 142 state primary schools in Norwich. Higher than 61% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 15.1% | 15.1%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 28th lowest of 142 state primary schools in Norwich. Lower than 75% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.2% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 5th lowest of 142 state primary schools in Norwich. Lower than 98% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 2.6% | 12.5%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 65th lowest of 142 state primary schools in Norwich. Lower than 27% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.9 | 5.6 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 70th lowest of 142 state primary schools in Norwich. Lower than 27% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.5% | 2.1% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.10% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 13th highest of 142 state primary schools in Norwich. Higher than 84% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 23.8 | 19.8 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 37th highest of 142 state primary schools in Norwich. Higher than 57% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.1 | 9.8 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 5th highest of 115 state primary schools in Norwich. Higher than 99% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 53.8% | 16.7%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- Cecil Gowing Infant School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023
- Falcon Junior School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- Sprowston Junior School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023 · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- Sprowston Infant School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2020), confirmed 2025
- White House Farm 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- White Woman Lane Junior School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2018), confirmed 2024 · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- Heartsease Primary Academy 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 51% met expected standard (KS2)
- Old Catton CofE VC Junior School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Clements Hill Primary Academy 1.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 46% met expected standard (KS2)
- Lodge Lane Infant School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2011, before conversion), confirmed 2025
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Sparhawk Infant School and Nursery's Ofsted rating?
Sparhawk Infant School and Nursery was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 13 November 2019. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 26 February 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Would parents recommend Sparhawk Infant School and Nursery?
82% of the 17 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Sparhawk Infant School and Nursery to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Sparhawk Infant School and Nursery oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 33 families put Sparhawk Infant School and Nursery as their first choice for 42 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 33 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 120999.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.