Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #132 in Suffolk public Top 76% UK

Hillside Primary School

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

personMrs Lucy Wass

corporate_fareTHE ACTIVE LEARNING TRUST LIMITED

location_onIpswich, IP2 8NU

language Visit Website phone 1473601402

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

467

school

Expected Standard

53%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

0.9x

summarize

Hillside Primary School is a Academy sponsor led primary school in Ipswich, serving ages 3-11. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards. Ranks in the top 76% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

Hillside Primary School is an academy sponsor led in Ipswich, Suffolk, admitting pupils aged 3-11. It is part of THE ACTIVE LEARNING TRUST LIMITED. The school has approximately 421 pupils on roll, of whom 45% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 53% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 3% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #132 of 225 primaries in Suffolk and #9,671 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Requires improvement, behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement, personal development Requires improvement, and leadership and management Requires improvement.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 23.5:1. There is 1 teaching vacancy.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.2 per 1,000 pupils per term.

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

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

53%

LA 57%

Reading60% LA 73%

Writing72% LA 68%

Maths74% LA 69%

Read SS

101

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

101

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

49%

LA 55%England 61%

Reading67% LA 73% · Eng 74%

Writing61% LA 68% · Eng 72%

Maths71% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

104

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

30%

LA 54%England 60%

Reading49% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Writing40% LA 67% · Eng 71%

Maths42% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

100

Progress (0 = national avg)

-0.8

Read

LA 0.0

-2.3 to 0.8

-1.0

Write

LA -0.4

-2.5 to 0.5

-1.2

Maths

LA -0.6

-2.7 to 0.3

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

31%

LA 61%England 65%

Reading40% LA 71% · Eng 73%

Writing54% LA 75% · Eng 78%

Maths51% LA 75% · Eng 79%

Read SS

Maths SS

100

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

-2.9

Read

LA -0.6

-4.5 to -1.3

-0.4

Write

LA -0.7

-1.9 to 1.1

-1.4

Maths

LA -1.1

-2.9 to 0.0

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

41%

LA 60%

Reading58% LA 73%

Writing56% LA 74%

Maths56% LA 71%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

101

GPS SS

104

Progress (0 = national avg)

-3.6

Read

LA -0.4

-5.3 to -1.9

-3.8

Write

LA -0.5

-5.5 to -2.1

-3.2

Maths

LA -1.0

-4.8 to -1.6

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

04 October 2023

Inspection Report

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25 May 2021

Inspection Report

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16 March 2021

Inspection Report

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01 October 2019

Inspection Report

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07 June 2017

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2023-10-04

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 2 EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Requires improvement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2019-10-01

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Requires improvement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2017-06-07

Academy First Section 5 Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2014-06-11

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

Good

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

0.5%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.5%(2 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: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 421 pupils. During this period, there were 2 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.5%, which is below the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	421	2	0.5%	0.8%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	416	0	0.0%	0.9%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	419	0	0.0%	0.8%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	419	0	0.0%	0.7%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	421	0	0.0%	0.8%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	457	5	1.1%	0.7%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	467	33	7.1%	0.6%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	464	32	6.9%	0.6%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	503	16	3.2%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	493	14	2.8%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	495	30	6.1%	0.5%	1
2020/21 (Summer term)	526	24	4.6%	0.4%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	548	2	0.4%	0.1%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	547	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	604	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	604	26	4.3%	0.4%	3
2019/20 (Autumn term)	575	35	6.1%	0.6%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	630	17	2.7%	0.4%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	615	14	2.3%	0.5%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	593	25	4.2%	0.5%	1
2017/18 (Summer term)	621	21	3.4%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	606	42	6.9%	0.4%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	577	36	6.2%	0.5%	1
2016/17 (Summer term)	603	55	9.1%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	586	31	5.3%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	566	19	3.4%	0.5%	0

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

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psychology_alt

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.

Speech, Language & Communication 27 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 15 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 10 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 3 pupils

Hearing Impairment 3 pupils

Physical Disability 3 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

Visual Impairment 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

88.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

85.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

35.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree37%

agree43%

disagree6%

strongly disagree13%

don't know1%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree42%

agree41%

disagree9%

strongly disagree6%

don't know3%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree32%

agree30%

disagree8%

strongly disagree9%

don't know1%

not applicable20%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes20%

no80%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree38%

agree38%

disagree6%

strongly disagree19%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree25%

agree57%

disagree8%

strongly disagree6%

don't know4%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree44%

agree41%

disagree8%

strongly disagree8%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree48%

agree41%

disagree6%

strongly disagree4%

don't know1%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree39%

agree48%

disagree6%

strongly disagree3%

don't know4%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree51%

agree41%

disagree3%

strongly disagree4%

don't know3%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree37%

agree49%

disagree6%

strongly disagree6%

don't know1%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes76%

no24%

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Woodhall Primary School

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Abbots Green Primary Academy

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Poplars Community Primary School

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

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)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Suffolk

The Albert Pye Community Primary School

Lavenham Community Primary School

Red Oak Primary School

Woodhall Primary School

Abbots Green Primary Academy

Poplars Community Primary School