Hilltop Primary School

About Hilltop Primary School

Hilltop Primary School in Crawley is a state primary for mixed pupils aged 3 to 11, and it is comfortably full. With 642 pupils on roll against a capacity of 630, the school is operating slightly above its official limit, and demand is strong: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 176 applications for 84 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.1 to one. Of those, 74 families put Hilltop as their first preference, and 74 first-preference offers were made, meaning every family who wanted it most got a place. The pupil body is notably diverse in terms of disadvantage: 24.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is significantly higher than the national primary average of around 23% and suggests the school serves a community with above-average levels of economic need. The school has a nursery provision, so children can join from age three, and it is non-denominational, with no religious character attached.

Academically, Hilltop performs well above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 71% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a West Sussex average of just 56%. The school ranks 6th out of 21 primary schools in Crawley and sits in the top 50 nationally for this combined measure. Reading and maths average scores were 106 and 104 respectively, both above the national benchmark of 100. At the higher standard, 37% of pupils achieved greater depth in reading and 20% in maths, though writing at the higher level was lower at 6%. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in March 2024, confirmed it remains Good and is improving. This is a marked turnaround from its previous graded inspection in 2014, when it was rated Requires Improvement; leadership and management were also rated Good in the latest visit.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including playing fields, art studios, a library, music rooms and a chapel. Sports provision covers football, athletics, rounders, dance, netball, cross country and tennis, while clubs include coding, drama, art club and film club. For families with children who have additional needs, Hilltop has a broad SEND offer, supporting moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, hearing and visual impairments, and autistic spectrum disorder. The school is oversubscribed, so families living within the catchment area or with a strong local connection will have the best chance of securing a place. It suits families who want a large, popular primary with strong academic results relative to the local area, a diverse intake, and a clear track record of improvement under stable leadership.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Hilltop Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents