Hilton Spencer Academy

About Hilton Spencer Academy

Hilton Spencer Academy, a large state primary in South Derbyshire, outperforms the local authority average on the headline Key Stage 2 measure. In the 2023/24 academic year, 69% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Derbyshire average of 59%. That ten-point gap places the school comfortably above the typical primary in the area. The school’s ranking within the local authority reflects this: it sits 73rd out of 353 primary schools in Derbyshire, putting it in the top third. Its ranking score of 69 places it in the top 50 tier nationally, and within South Derbyshire specifically it ranks 9th out of 30 schools. The school is also oversubscribed, with 116 applications for 76 places in the 2025/26 intake, and 63 first-preference offers made, suggesting strong local demand.

Beyond the headline figure, the school’s KS2 results show solid performance across individual subjects. 87% of pupils reached the expected standard in maths, with an average scaled score of 107, and 44% achieved the higher standard. In reading, 79% met the expected standard, also with an average score of 107, and 46% reached the higher level. Writing is a relative weaker spot: 71% met the expected standard and only 16% achieved the higher standard. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2023, rated it Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good. This marks a clear improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2014, when it was rated Requires Improvement. The school has held a Good rating across both its ungraded and graded inspections since then.

The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a forest school, art studios, music rooms, an ICT suite and a chapel. Sports provision covers rounders, gymnastics, netball, tennis and cross country, while clubs include art, coding, gardening and book club. Hilton Spencer Academy has a nursery provision for children from age three and caters for a broad spectrum of SEND needs, including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing impairment, physical disability and autistic spectrum disorder. With 21.4% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. For families seeking a well-regarded, oversubscribed primary that delivers above-average academic outcomes and has strong local demand, this is a school worth serious consideration.

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