Ocker Hill Infant School

Ocker Hill Infant School is performing exceptionally well. Inspectors found high expectations, consistent routines and excellent behaviour, with pupils feeling safe and getting along well. The school’s work in reading, writing, speaking and mathematics is a particular strength and leads to exceptional progress, so standards by the end of Year 2 are high. Children often start with limited language, and the school responds with an excellent early language and reading curriculum that prepares them well for phonics and key stage 1. The early years provision is ambitious and carefully built around children’s starting points, while support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities is tailored so that all pupils can access the full curriculum. Personal development is also strong, including career-related learning and a well-designed PSHE programme. Parents are highly positive, and staff feel well supported by reflective leaders who make careful checks and adapt teaching when needed. Safeguarding arrangements are effective. This was the school’s first routine inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic, and inspectors took the pandemic’s impact into account. No significant weaknesses were identified in the report; the school is very well placed to prepare pupils for junior school.

Strengths

• High expectations and consistent routines help pupils settle quickly and feel safe.
• Behaviour is excellent in classrooms and on the playground.
• Reading, writing, speaking and mathematics provision is exemplary and leads to exceptional progress.
• The spoken language and early reading curriculum is excellent, especially for pupils who start with limited language.
• The early years curriculum is ambitious and builds strong readiness for Year 1.
• Mathematics teaching is informed and ambitious, with routines that build perseverance.
• Personal development is strong through career-related learning and a well-designed PSHE programme.
• Staff tailor support well for pupils with SEND so all can access the full curriculum.
• Leaders are reflective, evaluate carefully and support staff development.
• Governance is well informed and welcomes challenge.
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Ocker Hill Infant School attended 94.8% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 12.4% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.0% of pupils at Ocker Hill Infant School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Ocker Hill Infant School had 21.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 21.3% of pupils at Ocker Hill Infant School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.2% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Ocker Hill Infant School received £8,179 and spent £7,978 for each of its 207 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £238,000 (£1,151 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Tipton · Sandwell local authority: places and applications

What is Ocker Hill Infant School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Ocker Hill Infant School is Outstanding, from an inspection in March 2025.

When was Ocker Hill Infant School last inspected by Ofsted?

Ocker Hill Infant School was last inspected in March 2025.

How many pupils does Ocker Hill Infant School have?

Ocker Hill Infant School has 221 pupils on roll.

What age range does Ocker Hill Infant School cover?

Ocker Hill Infant School for pupils aged 3 to 7.

Where is Ocker Hill Infant School?

Ocker Hill Infant School is at Gospel Oak Road, Tipton, West Midlands, DY4 0DS.