SchoolScoresDownham Market, Hillcrest Primary School
Community school · Primary, ages 5 to 11 · Mixed
Hillcrest, Bexwell Road, Downham Market, PE38 9ND
01366 388191 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 12 September 2013.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 28 June 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
59 pupils in this year group.
71% — 15 points above the Norfolk average, and 9 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Norfolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 71% | 56% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 8% | 5% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 83% | 72% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 75% | 66% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 86% | 69% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 103 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Norfolk. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 56 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 57 |
| Of those, offered a place | 55 (96%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 88 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.3 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 1.0
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has a SEN unit with 20 places for specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia); Severe learning difficulties. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Norfolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 4th highest of 5 state primary schools in Downham Market. Higher than 50% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 21.4% | 23.9%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 5th highest of 5 state primary schools in Downham Market. Higher than 27% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.9% | 4.1%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 5th highest of 5 state primary schools in Downham Market. Higher than 17% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 9.5% | 15.3%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 2nd highest of 5 state primary schools in Downham Market. Higher than 52% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 10.5% | 15.1%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 5 state primary schools in Downham Market. Lower than 54% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.8% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 3rd lowest of 5 state primary schools in Downham Market. Lower than 55% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 10.9% | 12.5%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 2nd lowest of 5 state primary schools in Downham Market. Lower than 56% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.7 | 5.6 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 2nd lowest of 5 state primary schools in Downham Market. Lower than 57% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.5% | 2.1% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.10% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 1st highest of 5 state primary schools in Downham Market. Higher than 57% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 21.2 | 19.8 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 1st highest of 5 state primary schools in Downham Market. Higher than 60% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.3 | 9.8 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 4th highest of 4 state primary schools in Downham Market. Higher than 22% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 5.1% | 16.7%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby primary schools
- Nelson Academy 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), confirmed 2022 · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Wimbotsham and Stow Academy 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016, before conversion), confirmed 2022 · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 76% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Downham Market, Hillcrest Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Downham Market, Hillcrest Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 12 September 2013. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 28 June 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Downham Market, Hillcrest Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 71% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 9 points above the England average of 62%.
Is Downham Market, Hillcrest Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 57 families put Downham Market, Hillcrest Primary School as their first choice for 56 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 55 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 121013.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.