Hilltop First School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 29 November 2022

Pupils in this school are happy, settled and eager to share their thoughts. They articulate their ideas with enthusiasm. This begins with the youngest children in school. Pupils understand the golden rules and share these with zeal. They want to 'aim high and be kind'. Pupils behave well. They are polite, friendly and supportive of one another. On the playground, they play together and take turns using the shared equipment. These routines begin in Nursery, where children are kind and considerate of each other. Pupils understand what bullying is and that it is not acceptable. They know that instances of being unkind are not tolerated and that adults will deal with these. Pupils learn the importance of speaking out if something makes them feel uncomfortable. Leaders have high expectations. They are ambitious for all pupils. This is reflected in the curriculum where, for example, pupils learn French from Year 1 onwards. The caring ethos of this school is clear. Focused support is given to pupils based on their needs. There is no limit placed on what pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) can achieve.

What the school should improve

• In a few subjects, there is some variability in staff subject knowledge. This means that pupils do not always learn as well as they could. Leaders need to continue providing bespoke training and monitor the effectiveness of this.
• In the early years, adults do not always deepen learning through targeted interactions. This means that children are not consistently exposed to a broad, rich vocabulary. Leaders need to continue to train staff so they have the skills needed to intervene effectively during learning activities.

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