Ofsted: Outstanding

Hill Park School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMrs Rachel Burstow

location_onBrighton, BN41 2FU

language Visit Website phone 1273422855

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2022

groups

Students

201

trending_up

Attainment 8

3.4

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GCSE Rank

#16 in Brighton and Hove

#4,356 of 4,663 nationally

summarize

Hill Park School is a Community special school school in Brighton, serving ages 4-16. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade.

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School Summary

Hill Park School is a community special school in Brighton, Brighton and Hove, admitting pupils aged 4-16. The school has approximately 264 pupils on roll, of whom 44% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 3.4, placing the school #16 in Brighton and Hove and #4,356 of 4,663 nationally. 2.80% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 4.5% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2022. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Outstanding, behaviour and attitudes Outstanding, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Outstanding.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 13.3:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 1.3 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

3.4

Grade 5+ E&M

2.80%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)4.5%

Entering EBacc0.00%

EBacc APS0.17

2024

Progress 8 Score

-1.94

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

0.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0.00%

EBacc APS0.03

2023

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2022

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2018

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

100%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)100%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)0%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)95%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)94%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)0%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

89%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)89%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)11%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)96%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

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Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 55%

Reading0% LA 71%

Writing0% LA 67%

Maths0% LA 66%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 56%England 61%

Reading0% LA 75% · Eng 74%

Writing0% LA 67% · Eng 72%

Maths0% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 56%England 60%

Reading0% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing0% LA 66% · Eng 71%

Maths0% LA 68% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-8.2

Read

LA 0.5

-11.6 to -4.8

-8.2

Write

LA -0.7

-11.5 to -4.9

-9.6

Maths

LA -0.8

-12.9 to -6.4

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 62%England 65%

Reading0% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing0% LA 76% · Eng 78%

Maths0% LA 75% · Eng 79%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-4.6

Read

LA 0.3

-7.8 to -1.3

-4.6

Write

LA -0.3

-7.6 to -1.6

-4.2

Maths

LA -0.6

-7.1 to -1.4

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 63%

Reading-% LA 76%

Writing-% LA 75%

Maths-% LA 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

LA 0.6

Write

LA -0.6

Maths

LA -0.3

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

08 June 2022

Inspection Report

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13 February 2019

Inspection Report

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22 October 2014

Inspection Report

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03 February 2010

Inspection Report

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14 November 2006

Inspection Report

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23 September 2002

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2022-06-08

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

Outstanding

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Outstanding

2019-02-13

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2014-10-22

S5 Inspection Legacy

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2010-02-03

None EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

0.4%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.4%(1 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 264 pupils. During this period, there were 1 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.4%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	264	1	0.4%	7.3%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	263	6	2.3%	7.8%
2023/24 (Summer term)	240	3	1.2%	7.4%
2023/24 (Spring term)	236	3	1.3%	7.1%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	239	7	2.9%	8.2%
2022/23 (Summer term)	202	2	1.0%	6.6%
2022/23 (Spring term)	201	2	1.0%	6.4%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	200	4	2.0%	5.9%
2021/22 (Summer term)	199	1	0.5%	4.7%
2021/22 (Spring term)	199	3	1.5%	4.9%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	200	1	0.5%	4.4%
2020/21 (Summer term)	197	0	0.0%	3.6%
2020/21 (Spring term)	197	0	0.0%	1.0%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	196	1	0.5%	3.9%
2019/20 (Summer term)	186	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	186	1	0.5%	3.2%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	185	5	2.7%	4.2%
2018/19 (Summer term)	178	8	4.5%	3.1%
2018/19 (Spring term)	181	2	1.1%	3.8%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	181	1	0.6%	3.8%
2017/18 (Summer term)	76	0	0.0%	3.4%
2017/18 (Spring term)	76	0	0.0%	3.0%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	76	0	0.0%	3.7%
2016/17 (Summer term)	76	0	0.0%	3.0%
2016/17 (Spring term)	77	0	0.0%	3.3%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	75	0	0.0%	3.1%

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 176 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 28 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 26 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 9 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 9 pupils

Profound & Multiple Learning 8 pupils

Physical Disability 4 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 2 pupils

Hearing Impairment 1 pupils

Hill Park School

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Funding & Staffing

Staffing

Teacher Turnover