Classpot

Downham Market, Hillcrest Primary School

King's Lynn and West Norfolk, PE38 9NDPrimaryAges 5–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Jun 2023
KS2 Results
64%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
47 1st-choice / 51 places
Ranking
#6,357
of 13,686 nationally

About Downham Market, Hillcrest Primary School

Downham Market, Hillcrest Primary School is a state-funded mixed primary for ages 5 to 11 in the King's Lynn and West Norfolk borough. It is currently running very close to capacity, with 411 pupils against a school capacity of 420, leaving only nine spare places. The school is clearly in demand: for the 2025/26 admissions cycle, it received 81 applications for just 51 places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 1.59 applicants per spot. Of those, 47 were first-preference applications, and all 47 received offers. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 19.7%, which is notably higher than the national average for primary schools (typically around 23-24%) and suggests the school serves a community with above-average levels of economic disadvantage. This context matters when interpreting the school's academic results, as schools with higher FSM percentages often face additional challenges in achieving top attainment scores.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range5 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressHillcrest, Downham Market, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, PE38 9ND
HeadteacherMatthew Try
Local AuthorityNorfolk
Number of Pupils411
Free School Meals (FSM)19.7%
School Capacity411 / 420 (98% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

28 Jun 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Latest monitoring visit (28 Jun 2023): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 30 Sept 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

7
Dining HallOutdoor PlaygroundLibraryPlaying FieldsICT SuiteForest SchoolChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

11

Sports

DanceSwimmingAthleticsNetballTennisFootballCross Country

Clubs & Activities

DramaChoirChessEco Club

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingPhysicalLearning Difficulty

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Downham Market, Hillcrest Primary School

Downham Market, Hillcrest Primary School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.