Hill Top Primary Academy

  • Primary
  • Academy
  • Ages 3 to 11
Ofsted: Good

Batley Road, West Ardsley, Wakefield, WF3 1HDOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Hill Top Primary Academy is a primary school in Wakefield for ages 3 to 11. It is one of the 295 schools in Leeds. It ranks 9th of 50 primary schools in Wakefield. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in July 2024.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 9 July 2024, report published 24 September 2024

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Good
Early years provision
Good
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 9 July 2024

Pupils love to attend this caring and inclusive school. They enjoy extremely positive relationships with adults. Pupils know that if they have a concern, they can turn to any adult for help. They flourish in this helpful environment. Pupils are proud to attend Hill Top Primary Academy. The school has very high expectations for all pupils. Pupils rise to these expectations with enthusiasm. They achieve highly at the end of key stage 2. Pupils respond positively to the school's ambitious behaviour standards. They are excited to learn. Pupils respond quickly to instructions. They value the calm learning environment and behave exceptionally well. Pupils model the values of the school, such as care and confidence, extremely well. They pride themselves on showing great empathy for their peers. Their care and kindness for others significantly contributes to the positive culture in the school. Pupils enjoy being rewarded for living out the values of the school. They earn Hill Top pounds. Pupils spend these pounds at 'Harper's Market'. They can choose to spend the pounds immediately. Alternatively, they can save them and delay their reward. This teaches pupils important lessons about how rewards do not have to be instant.

What the school should improve

  • The school does not have a precise system to identify how well some pupils at the early stages of reading are progressing. This means that some reading books are not well matched to pupils' phonics knowledge. The school should improve how it checks on pupils' early reading progress and how it uses the information to maximise pupils' progress.

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

30 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths83%

83%, 21 percentage points above the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths20%

20%, 12 percentage points above the England average of 8%.

Reading, average scaled score108

108, 2 above the England average of 106.

Maths, average scaled score106

106, 1 above the England average of 105.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling, average scaled score109

109, 4 above the England average of 105.

Pupil numbers and mix

223 pupils on roll, with places for 210

Eligible for free school meals10.8%

10.8%, 15.7 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language5.4%

5.4%, 16.2 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support15.2%

15.2%, 0.4 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan1.8%

1.8%, 4.2 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Hill Top Primary Academy

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Westerton Primary Academy0.6 milesOfsted: Good62% met the expected standard
Blackgates Primary Academy1 mileOfsted judgements: Good50% met the expected standard
Lydgate Junior and Infant School1 mileOfsted judgements: Good to outstanding68% met the expected standard
Shaw Cross Infant and Nursery School1 mileReport card: Needs attention to expected standardNot published
Hanging Heaton Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior and Infant School1 mileOfsted: Good75% met the expected standard

School details

School type
Academy converter
Sector
Academy
Trust
LEODIS ACADEMIES TRUST
Age range
3 to 11
Gender
Mixed
Nursery classes
Yes
Headteacher
Mrs Joanne Lancaster
Address
Batley Road, West Ardsley, Wakefield, WF3 1HD
Local authority
Leeds
URN
142427

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.