Hilgay Riverside Academy
Church Road, Hilgay, Downham Market, PE38 0JLOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Hilgay Riverside Academy is a primary school in Downham Market for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 453 schools in Norfolk. It ranks 170th of 263 primary schools in Norfolk. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in May 2022.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 10 May 2022, report published 6 July 2022
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 10 May 2022
Everyone knows each other well at Hilgay Riverside Academy. Pupils all become a 'family leader' in Year 6 and help to look after younger pupils. Pupils are kind and show respect for each other and the staff. Pupils enjoy their lessons and talk confidently about what they have learned. The curriculum helps pupils to make links from previous lessons and across subjects. Pupils behave well in lessons and successfully meet the consistently high expectations in place. Pupils listen to each other's opinions and respond sensitively. Younger children learn the routines of the school from their older peers in the mixed-age classes. Bullying is rare, but if there were any incidents of bullying, pupils are confident that staff would sort it out. Pupils know that disagreements can happen when they are 'a bit dramatic about things'. Their teachers help them to learn about expressing their emotions, such as through setting up clubs such as 'girl up' to help older female pupils. The motto of the school is 'opportunity, challenge, respect'. Pupils understand what this means and are proud of their school community and all it has to offer.
What the school should improve
- Leaders have not ensured the rules, routines, and expectations of how pupils should behave when not in lessons is clear and are consistent throughout the school. As a result, on occasions, pupils' behaviour during breaktimes is not as consistently good as in class. Leaders should set out the rules, routines, and expectations of pupils' behaviour during breaktimes and ensure all staff are trained and supported to implement them.
- The newer members of the governing body have not been able to visit the school to carry out their monitoring responsibilities. Trustees should provide further opportunities, training, and support for new governors to ensure the rigourous approach to monitoring the curriculum is applied in other areas of school life, such as behaviour, to better understand the school.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
10 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
75 pupils on roll, with places for 98
Schools near Hilgay Riverside Academy
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 76% met the expected standard |
| Southery Academy | 2 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | 46% met the expected standard |
| Downham Market, Hillcrest Primary School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 71% met the expected standard |
| Nelson Academy | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 63% met the expected standard |
| Wimbotsham and Stow Academy | 4 miles | Ofsted: Good | 56% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- GRACE SCHOOLS
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mrs Sarah Turner
- Phone
- 01366387685
- Address
- Church Road, Hilgay, Downham Market, PE38 0JL
- Local authority
- Norfolk
- URN
- 142526
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.