SchoolScoresHilltop Infant School
Academy · Primary, ages 2 to 7 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of HEARTS ACADEMY TRUST
Hill Avenue, Wickford, SS11 8LT
01268 762531 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 12 November 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
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 | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
260 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
Wickford comparisons use the 3 of its 10 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 7 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Wickford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wickford. Higher than 80% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 96% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wickford. Higher than 77% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 96% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wickford. Higher than 66% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 85% | 78% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 224 parents who had raised a concern 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wickford. Higher than 60% of 1,062 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 86% | 85% | 74% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 22 parents of children with SEND Joint 6th highest of 14 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Essex. Higher than 58% of 552 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 77% | – | 63% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wickford. Higher than 75% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97%said yes | 94% | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 100%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Wickford figures pool parents at the Wickford schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Essex. 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 | 57 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 57 |
| Of those, offered a place | 57 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 140 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 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
| Pupils | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 9th highest of 10 state primary schools in Wickford. Higher than 13% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 8.6% | 21.7%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan Joint 9th highest of 10 state primary schools in Wickford. Higher than 9% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 0.9% | 2.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 5th highest of 10 state primary schools in Wickford. Higher than 39% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 12.9% | 13.9%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 10th highest of 10 state primary schools in Wickford. Higher than 9% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.0% | 12.2%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 5th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Wickford. Lower than 49% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.0% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 1st lowest of 10 state primary schools in Wickford. Lower than 80% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 7.0% | 13.0%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 6th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Wickford. Lower than 24% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 3.3 | 3.3 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 4th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Wickford. Lower than 41% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.0% | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 1st highest of 10 state primary schools in Wickford. Higher than 95% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 26.3 | 21.9 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 2nd highest of 10 state primary schools in Wickford. Higher than 96% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 15.2 | 11.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 4th highest of 10 state primary schools in Wickford. Higher than 78% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 22.2% | 13.5%* | 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.
Nearby primary schools
- Hilltop Junior School 0.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- The Wickford CofE School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023)
- Runwell Community Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- North Crescent Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- Wickford Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- Abacus Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), confirmed 2023 · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
- Oakfield Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Luke's Park Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
- Grange Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 59% met expected standard (KS2)
- Rettendon Primary School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023, before conversion) · 40% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Hilltop Infant School's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 12 November 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
Would parents recommend Hilltop Infant School?
97% of the 260 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Hilltop Infant School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Hilltop Infant School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 57 families put Hilltop Infant School as their first choice for 57 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 57 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 144834.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 2026.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.