Hilmarton Primary School

About Hilmarton Primary School

Hilmarton Primary School is a state primary in Wiltshire that is noticeably smaller than its capacity would allow, with 106 pupils on roll against a school capacity of 114. That gap suggests the school is not yet full, but the demand picture tells a more nuanced story. For the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 42 applications for just 16 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.63, and 15 of those 16 first-preference offers went to families who listed Hilmarton as their top choice. So while the overall pupil count is below capacity, the intake is clearly competitive at the entry point. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 17.9%, which is above the national primary average of around 23% but worth noting in the context of a village school in a relatively affluent county. The school is mixed, non-denominational, and serves ages 4 to 11, with headteacher Sam Churchill leading a team that has held a Good Ofsted rating since at least 2013.

Academically, Hilmarton performs solidly against local and national benchmarks. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 64% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is above the Wiltshire local authority average of 58%. The school’s reading results are particularly strong: 100% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, with an average scaled score of 108, and 29% achieved the higher standard. In maths, 79% met the expected standard with an average score of 104, and 21% reached the higher threshold. Writing is the weaker area, with 71% at expected and only 7% at the higher standard. Nationally, the school ranks in the 47th percentile for combined RWM expected, and within Wiltshire it sits 61st out of 159 primaries, placing it in the top 50% of the county. The school has held a Good Ofsted rating across all inspected categories in its most recent 2024 inspection, with behaviour, leadership, early years and personal development all rated Good.

For families considering Hilmarton, the school offers a broad set of facilities that go beyond the typical village primary. There is a sensory room, forest school provision, art studios, a gymnasium and a chapel, alongside an outdoor playground and dining hall. Sports include gymnastics, athletics, football and swimming, and the clubs list covers art, film, science, chess, eco and coding. The school’s SEND register is comprehensive, with provisions for dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, speech and language needs, autism, physical disability and multi-sensory impairment, among others. The oversubscription ratio of 2.63 means that families applying from outside the immediate catchment should be prepared for competition, especially for Reception places. This is a school that suits families who value strong reading outcomes, a wide range of enrichment activities, and a setting where the headteacher has maintained consistent Good standards over successive inspections.

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