St Catherine's Catholic Primary School (Hallam)

About St Catherine's Catholic Primary School (Hallam)

St Catherine's Catholic Primary School (Hallam) in Sheffield is a state primary that is significantly oversubscribed, a clear signal of its popularity among local families. With 458 pupils on roll against a capacity of 420, the school is operating above its official limit, and for the 2025/26 intake it received 109 applications for just 60 places, with 72 of those coming as first preferences. That gives an oversubscription ratio of 1.82, meaning nearly two families apply for every spot. The school serves a diverse intake: 36% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is notably higher than the national primary average of around 23% and suggests a genuinely mixed catchment. As a Roman Catholic school, it will have a faith-based admissions criteria, but the demand from first-preference families shows it draws strong support from the local community regardless of background.

Academically, St Catherine's performs well above the Sheffield local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 66% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared to the LA average of 57%. The school ranks 33rd out of 106 primaries in Sheffield, placing it in the top third locally and the top 50% nationally. Pupils achieved average scores of 105 in maths and 106 in reading, both comfortably above the national benchmark of 100. The proportion reaching the higher standard in maths was 24%, and in reading 27%, though only 2% achieved higher in writing. Ofsted has rated the school Outstanding overall, upgrading from Good in its previous graded inspection. The most recent ungraded inspection in December 2022 confirmed it remains Outstanding, with leadership, management and early years provision all judged Outstanding individually.

The school offers a strong set of facilities including a sensory room, library, forest school and chapel, reflecting its Catholic identity. Sports provision covers cricket, football, tennis and athletics, while clubs range from coding and chess to drama and gardening. SEND support is in place for pupils with moderate learning difficulties, speech and language needs, social and emotional challenges, and autistic spectrum disorder. There is also nursery provision for children from age three. For families considering St Catherine's, the key takeaway is that it is a high-demand, high-performing school with a genuinely inclusive intake. The oversubscription means applying as a first preference is essential, and those with a Catholic connection will have priority under admissions criteria. It suits families who want strong academic outcomes in a faith-based setting with good pastoral and SEND support.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About St Catherine's Catholic Primary School (Hallam)

Helpful Guides for Parents