The Hill Primary School

About The Hill Primary School

The Hill Primary School in Reading is a state primary for children aged 4 to 11 that is comfortably below capacity, with 394 pupils against a published capacity of 420. That spare capacity is notable given the school is heavily oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 206 applications for just 60 places, an oversubscription ratio of 3.43, and only 59 of those offers went to first-preference applicants out of 65 who listed it as their top choice. The school’s intake is significantly less disadvantaged than the national average, with just 4.3% of pupils eligible for free school meals, compared with a typical primary figure of around 23% nationally. This suggests a relatively affluent catchment, and the school’s popularity among local families is clear from the demand. The headteacher is Robert Jones, and the school has no religious character. It does not offer nursery provision or a sixth form, focusing solely on its primary-age cohort.

Academically, The Hill performs well above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 66% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Reading LA average of 61%. That places the school 12th out of 38 primaries in the borough, putting it in the top third locally. Results are strongest in reading, where 85% reached the expected standard and 41% achieved a higher score; the average reading scaled score was 108. Maths was also solid, with 76% at expected and an average score of 105, though only 29% reached the higher threshold. Writing was the weakest area, with 71% at expected and just 5% at the higher level. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in November 2023, confirmed it remains Good, a rating it has held since at least its previous graded inspection in 2013, when leadership and management, behaviour and early years provision were all judged Good.

The school offers a decent range of facilities for a primary, including an ICT suite, gymnasium, playing fields, music rooms, a sensory room and a chapel. Sports provision covers netball, gymnastics, cross country, athletics, swimming and dance, and there are clubs including chess, choir, science club and eco club. The Hill has a broad SEND offer, with provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. For families weighing up options, the nearest Outstanding-rated school is Emmer Green Primary, 0.6 km away, but The Hill’s strong KS2 results, high demand and Good Ofsted rating make it a solid choice for families in central Reading who want a well-subscribed, academically solid primary without the pressure of a faith designation.

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