Hill Top Primary Academy

About Hill Top Primary Academy

Hill Top Primary Academy in Leeds was rated Good overall in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024, but the detail tells a more interesting story. Inspectors awarded the school Outstanding for both personal development and behaviour and attitudes, which is a strong signal for parents focused on character and conduct. On the academic front, the school’s key metric is the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which sits at 73 per cent. That is comfortably above the Leeds local authority average of 61 per cent for primary schools, placing Hill Top in the top quarter of schools nationally and 45th out of 204 in the local authority. The school’s overall ranking score of 73 puts it in the top 25 per cent of primary schools across the country, a solid achievement for a relatively small school of 232 pupils.

Digging into the detail of the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, the school performs consistently across the three subjects. In reading, 83 per cent of pupils met the expected standard, with an average scaled score of 105, and 30 per cent reached the higher standard. Maths tells a similar story: 83 per cent at expected, an average score of 105, and again 30 per cent at the higher level. Writing lags slightly, with 80 per cent at expected and 23 per cent at the higher standard. The combined expected figure of 73 per cent is the headline, but the school also sees 17 per cent of pupils hitting the higher standard across all three subjects. Compared with its previous Ofsted inspection in 2011, when it was also rated Good, the school has maintained its overall grade while sharpening its focus on personal development and behaviour, both now rated Outstanding.

Hill Top is a state primary for children aged 3 to 11, with a nursery on site, and it is clearly popular. For the 2025/26 reception intake, the school received 108 applications for just 29 places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 3.72 applicants per place. Only 32 of those applicants put it as their first preference, and all 29 offers went to first-preference families. The school has a below-average proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 11.2 per cent. Facilities include a library, gymnasium, ICT suite, sensory room, playing fields, forest school and even a chapel. The SEND provision covers a broad range of needs, including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, speech and language needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. For families who value strong behaviour, personal development and above-average academic outcomes in a well-resourced setting, Hill Top is a compelling option, though securing a place will require a first-preference application.

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