Hill Top Academy

Hill Top Academy has received an outstanding rating in its first Ofsted inspection, reflecting its exceptional quality of education and holistic development of pupils. The school prides itself on providing a broad and ambitious curriculum, fostering high expectations and a calm culture where pupils feel safe and engaged. Notably, the school has built strong relationships with families and the local community, leading to high levels of parental satisfaction. The emphasis on personal development and achievement is evident, as pupils are encouraged to take on leadership roles and are well-prepared for their next educational stages.

Strengths

• Exceptional curriculum that promotes high achievement
• Highly skilled teachers who adapt lessons to meet all pupils' needs
• Strong emphasis on reading, leading to fluent reading skills among pupils
• Robust early years provision that fosters independence and readiness for Year 1
• Commitment to developing pupils' personal development and leadership skills
• Positive relationships with families and strong community ties
• High standards of behavior and a sense of safety among pupils
• Supportive and well-respected leadership team

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 Hill Top Academy attended 95.7% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 8.7% 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, 0.5% of pupils at Hill Top Academy 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 Hill Top Academy had 20.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 5.9% 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, 22.4% of pupils at Hill Top Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.4% 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 2024–25 Hill Top Academy received £7,069 and spent £6,944 for each of its 367 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £47,000 (£127 per pupil).

Across all 10 schools of Exceed Learning Partnership, income was £7,056 and spending £6,961 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Doncaster · Doncaster local authority: places and applications

Hill Top Academy is part of Exceed Learning Partnership, which runs 10 schools. The nearest others:

• Edlington Victoria Academy Doncaster
• The Mallard Academy Doncaster
• Carr Lodge Academy Doncaster
• Hall Cross Academy Doncaster
• Rosedale Primary School Doncaster
• Willow Primary School Doncaster
• Bentley High Street Primary School Doncaster
• Sandringham Primary School Doncaster
• Sheep Dip Lane Academy Doncaster

What is Hill Top Academy's Ofsted rating?

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

When was Hill Top Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Hill Top Academy was last inspected in March 2024.

How many pupils does Hill Top Academy have?

Hill Top Academy has 380 pupils on roll.

What age range does Hill Top Academy cover?

Hill Top Academy for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Hill Top Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 78% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Hill Top Academy?

Hill Top Academy is at Edlington Lane, Edlington, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN12 1PL.