Hunter's Bar Infant School
99%
Capacity
268
Pupils
2.9x
Demand
About Hunter's Bar Infant School
Hunter's Bar Infant School sits within the Sheffield local authority, a large urban area where 14 out of 131 primary schools currently hold an Ofsted Outstanding rating. The school itself is rated Good overall, with a notable Outstanding grade for leadership and management in its most recent graded inspection. Among its local peers, the top-performing schools in the authority include Dobcroft Junior School, Totley Primary School, and Angram Bank Primary School. Interestingly, the nearest Outstanding-rated school is Hunter's Bar Junior School, which sits on the same site and shares the name, creating a natural feeder relationship for children moving up at age seven. The infant school is led by headteacher Michael Barnes and caters to 268 pupils aged four to seven, operating very close to its full capacity of 270 places.
Academically, the school's most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 confirmed it remains Good, with leadership and management judged Outstanding. This represents a significant improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2011, when overall effectiveness was rated Requires Improvement. The inspection report noted that early years provision, personal development, and behaviour and attitudes were all areas of strength, though specific numerical scores for those categories were not provided in the latest graded inspection. As an infant school, it does not participate in Key Stage 2 SATs, so direct comparison with the Sheffield local authority average of 57 for KS2 attainment is not applicable. However, the school's strong leadership and the fact it is oversubscribed by a ratio of 2.92 suggest parents have confidence in its provision. With 105 first-preference applications for 90 places, and 88 first-preference offers made, demand clearly outstrips supply.
The school offers a range of facilities including a library, art studios, sports hall, playing fields, and a chapel, alongside clubs such as Eco Club, Choir, and Book Club. Sports provision includes netball, athletics, tennis, and swimming. For children with additional needs, the school supports those with moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication difficulties. Admission data for the 2025/26 intake shows 263 total applications for 90 places, making it heavily oversubscribed. This school will particularly suit families living within the catchment area who want a strong infant-phase foundation with a clear transition to the adjacent junior school. Given the high demand, early registration and understanding of the admissions criteria are essential for prospective parents.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 4 to 7 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Sharrow Vale Road, Sheffield, Sheffield, S11 8ZG |
| Headteacher | Michael Barnes |
| Local Authority | Sheffield |
| Number of Pupils | 268 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 9.4% |
| School Capacity | 268 / 270 (99% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
23 Feb 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (23 Feb 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 12 Mar 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
5Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
7Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed90
263
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
105 families put this school as their 1st choice (40% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:50 – 15:20
Source: huntersbarinfantschool.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British66.8%
- Asian15.4%
- Mixed8.5%
- White (other)6.0%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
14
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
10
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Hunter's Bar Infant School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Sharrow Vale Road, Sheffield
Sheffield, S11 8ZG
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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