Higham-on-the-Hill Church of England Primary School

About Higham-on-the-Hill Church of England Primary School

Higham-on-the-Hill Church of England Primary School is a small village primary with just 79 pupils on roll against a capacity of 105, meaning it has room to grow but currently serves a tight-knit cohort. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 15.2%, which is slightly above the national average for primary schools and suggests a modestly above-average level of disadvantage for a rural Church of England school. Demand is strong: for the 2025/26 reception intake, the school received 30 applications for just 9 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.33. Of those, 8 were first-preference offers, indicating that nearly all successful families had it as their top choice. The school is mixed, non-selective, and state-funded, with a Church of England character that likely appeals to local families seeking a faith-based but inclusive setting. Headteacher Alex Elspass leads a school that feels genuinely local in scale, and the oversubscription figures suggest it punches above its weight in popularity relative to its size.

Academically, the school holds a Good rating from Ofsted, upgraded from a Requires Improvement judgement in its previous graded inspection back in 2009. The most recent ungraded inspection in January 2023 confirmed it remains Good, with leadership and management also rated Good. At Key Stage 2 in 2023/24, 59% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is just below the local authority average of 62%. Reading is a clear strength: 88% met the expected standard and 53% achieved a higher standard, well above typical levels. Maths scores are more mixed, with 65% at expected and an average scaled score of 103, but only 18% reaching the higher threshold. Writing is the weakest area, with 65% at expected and just 6% at higher. Nationally, the school ranks in the 40th percentile for combined expected standard, placing it in the bottom half of primaries, but within the Hinckley and Bosworth area it sits 17th out of 29 schools.

The school offers a solid range of facilities for its size, including a gymnasium, sports hall, library, ICT suite, art studios, playing fields, a dining hall, a chapel, and a forest school. Sports provision covers gymnastics, football, athletics and dance, while clubs include book club, drama, science club, choir, art club and eco club. SEND support is available for pupils with moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. There is no nursery or sixth form, and it is not a boarding school. Given its oversubscription, families should apply early and consider the admission criteria carefully. This school will suit parents who value a small, Church of England primary with a strong reading culture, a forest school, and a clear sense of community, and who are comfortable with a school that is solidly Good rather than outstanding.

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