Hilltop First School

Hilltop First School has recently been inspected for the first time in over a decade and has been evaluated as good across all areas of performance. This marks a significant change from its previous outstanding status, which reflects the updated inspection framework. Despite the longer interval between inspections, the school demonstrates a strong commitment to fostering a positive learning environment where pupils are happy, settled, and engaged. Leaders prioritize a high-quality education and aim for each pupil, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), to reach their full potential.

Strengths

• Pupils display positive behavior and strong attitudes towards learning.
• The curriculum is ambitious and covers the national requirements effectively.
• There is a strong emphasis on reading and phonics, leading to increased engagement.
• Pupils benefit from targeted support for those with SEND.
• Leaders are focused on personal development and inclusivity in the school environment.
• Staff feel valued and supported, contributing to a positive workplace culture.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistencies noted in the delivery of the curriculum.
• Some variability in staff subject knowledge affecting learning outcomes.
• In the early years, staff do not consistently deepen children's vocabulary through interactions.

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 Hilltop First School attended 92.5% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 22.2% 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 Hilltop First 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 Hilltop First School had 18.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 26.5% 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, 14.1% of pupils at Hilltop First School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 7.3% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

The school has a SEN unit with 8 pupils.

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 Hilltop First School received £9,445 and spent £9,608 for each of its 177 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £172,000 (£974 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 Windsor · Windsor and Maidenhead local authority: places and applications

What is Hilltop First School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Hilltop First School is Good, from an inspection in January 2023.

When was Hilltop First School last inspected by Ofsted?

Hilltop First School was last inspected in January 2023.

How many pupils does Hilltop First School have?

Hilltop First School has 177 pupils on roll.

What age range does Hilltop First School cover?

Hilltop First School for pupils aged 4 to 9.

Where is Hilltop First School?

Hilltop First School is at Clewer Hill Road, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 4DW.