Hillside Community First School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 10 May 2023

Staff at Hillside Community First School help pupils to become respectful, tolerant and responsible. Pupils build trusted relationships with each other and with adults. They feel safe and happy. Pupils talk proudly of their school. Leaders have high expectations of what all pupils can achieve. Pupils are well mannered and considerate. Staff recognise pupils who behave well so they receive praise and encouragement. Staff provide additional support for the few pupils who struggle to manage their behaviour. As a result, pupils are motivated in their learning both in and out of the classroom. Pupils lead on many projects, such as being members of the school parliament, eco- warriors and play leaders. These responsibilities offer them a chance to make a meaningful contribution to school life. Staff provide clubs, including tennis, creative media, gardening and a variety of sports clubs. These help to foster pupils' interests. Parents speak highly of the school. They comment that they feel part of a community. They say that their children are excited to tell them about the many school events that enhance pupils' wider development. These include museum trips and sports competitions.

What the school should improve

• Pupils do not have sufficient opportunities to develop their reasoning and problem- solving skills. As a result, not all pupils deepen their mathematical knowledge and reason confidently. Leaders must ensure that the mathematics curriculum is implemented effectively to enable all pupils to reason and problem-solve well.
• Leaders' new curriculum plans in some subjects are not fully implemented. This means that, in these subjects, some pupils do not have a secure enough understanding of the subject. This leads to gaps in pupils' knowledge and understanding. Leaders need to ensure that new curriculum is fully implemented so that pupils learn the subject- specific content.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)