Hill Top School

Hill Top School continues to perform well as a good school, providing a nurturing and inclusive environment for its pupils. With a strong emphasis on building trusting relationships and ensuring pupils feel safe and valued, attendance and behavior are notably positive. The school has made improvements in leadership and teaching quality, particularly in extending individual learning opportunities beyond the classroom and preparing pupils for adulthood. However, some challenges remain, including a need for more robust checks on curriculum implementation and addressing attendance issues for a small number of students. As a special school serving pupils with significant learning difficulties, Hill Top places a strong focus on personalized education plans through EHC plans.

Strengths

• Strong, trusting relationships between staff and pupils.
• A caring and inclusive environment where pupils feel safe.
• Well-established daily routines that create a harmonious atmosphere.
• Ambitious curriculum tailored to individual pupil needs.
• Focus on developing communication, language, and reading skills.
• High-quality training provided for staff regarding pupil needs.
• Decisive actions taken to improve attendance rates.
• Impressive personal development programs including a variety of extracurricular activities.

Areas for Improvement

• Some subject leaders have not reviewed curriculum implementation effectively.
• Lack of systems to check how well pupils are retaining knowledge.
• A small number of pupils have inconsistent attendance, impacting their learning.

In 2024–25 pupils at Hill Top School attended 92.3% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 20.8% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).

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 Hill Top School were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). 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 Hill Top School had 6.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 9.3% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).

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 Hill Top School had 127 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: moderate learning difficulty; autistic spectrum disorder.

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 special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Hill Top School received £29,583 and spent £30,686 for each of its 127 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £162,000 (-£1,273 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).

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What is Hill Top School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Hill Top School is Good, from an inspection in March 2024.

When was Hill Top School last inspected by Ofsted?

Hill Top School was last inspected in March 2024.

How many pupils does Hill Top School have?

Hill Top School has 127 pupils on roll.

What age range does Hill Top School cover?

Hill Top School for pupils aged 11 to 19.

Where is Hill Top School?

Hill Top School is at Wealcroft, Felling, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE10 8LT.