Hillborough Junior School, Luton
Hillborough Junior School is a primary school for pupils aged 7 to 11 in Luton. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the highest of the 41 schools in Luton with published results, and 474th of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2023)
- Capacity
- Full
- Attendance
- In line with England
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Hillborough Junior School in detail
Hillborough Junior School in its own words
In its own words: "Hillborough Junior has been both a ‘Beacon’ school and (until July 2021) a ‘Teaching School’. It is home of both the Shire Foundation, a high quality initial teacher training centre, and a Behaviour Provision which, collectively, provides invaluable support to schools locally and nationally."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, cricket, tennis, athletics and dance.
The school runs a breakfast club.
Vision and values (school website)Clubs (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 95% of Year 6 pupils at Hillborough Junior School reached the expected standard in reading and 95% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 79% and 79% in Luton and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (96% in reading, 97% in maths).
Getting a place at Hillborough Junior School
Across Luton, 93% of families were offered their first-choice primary school for 2026 entry, and 99% were offered one of the schools they named.
In 2026, families in Luton lodged 85 appeals against primary school offers; 67 reached a hearing and 1 succeeded (1.5% of those heard).
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Hillborough Junior School are Hillborough Infant and Nursery School (under 0.1 miles, Good); Farley Junior Academy (0.3 miles, Outstanding, 76% reading, 81% maths); Tennyson Road Primary School (0.4 miles, Outstanding, 86% reading, 90% maths); and St Margaret of Scotland Catholic Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 83% reading, 80% maths).
Hillborough Junior School's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.
Hillborough Infant and Nursery SchoolFarley Junior AcademyTennyson Road Primary SchoolSt Margaret of Scotland Catholic Primary School
Who goes there
35.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 59.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (40%), Black (15%) and White British (12%).
In 2026, 39 pupils (10.9%) received SEN support and 8 (2.2%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Luton Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Wilsden Avenue (near), 130 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Hillborough Junior School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 797 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Luton (296), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
Hillborough Junior School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Hillborough Junior School are The Stockwood Park Academy (0.5 miles) and Chiltern Academy (1 mile).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its November 2023 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
35.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 95% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 95% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 89% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.8
Avg class size
29.8
KS2
12
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Hillborough Junior School
Before and after school care
Hillborough Junior School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Luton
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Hillborough Junior School.
- Hillborough Before and After School ClubAt the school · Not yet graded
- Kidz Zone Club - Hillborough Infant & Nursery SchoolAt the school · Not yet graded
- Kidz Zone Club - Tennyson Road740m away · Not yet graded
- Link Educational Centre860m away · Not yet graded
- Kumon Luton Stockwood Park980m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Hillborough Junior School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Hillborough Junior School is in Luton; for families living there:
- Luton's school travel policy: Travel assistance policy for 0 to 25 year olds in education
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 48
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 8
- Children hurt
- 7
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 48 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 8 serious and 40 slight.
7 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
7 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Luton is 28 (the median across 79 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
100%
Full
360 pupils
360 places
No spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Luton
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Luton
Across Luton council
Places available
3,222
Applications
2,863
Got 1st preference
92.6%
Got preferred school
98.9%
All primary applications across Luton council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(4)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
39
SEN Support
8
EHC Plans
13.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
358
Total Pupils
178
Boys
180
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
21
Teachers
17.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,891
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,682
Per pupil
£2331k
Total funding
£194k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.3%
Overall absence
12.2%
Persistent absence
377
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Hillborough Junior School
Questions parents ask about Hillborough Junior School
What are SATs results like at Hillborough Junior School?
Of the pupils at Hillborough Junior School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 95% reached the expected standard in reading and 95% did so in maths.
What is Hillborough Junior School's Ofsted rating?
Hillborough Junior School was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2023.
What is the catchment area for Hillborough Junior School?
No fixed boundary. When Hillborough Junior School is oversubscribed, Luton allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Hillborough Junior School?
Hillborough Junior School was full in 2025, at 100% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Hillborough Junior School?
Classes at Hillborough Junior School average 29.8 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Hillborough Junior School?
Hillborough Junior School has around 358 pupils on roll. 36% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Hillborough Junior School?
5.3% of sessions were missed at Hillborough Junior School in 2024/25. 12.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Hillborough Junior School?
Apply through Luton's coordinated admissions process, naming Hillborough Junior School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
Does Hillborough Junior School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Hillborough Junior School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Ofsted's childcare register lists 2 out-of-school clubs at the school: Hillborough Before and After School Club (registered, not yet graded) and Kidz Zone Club - Hillborough Infant & Nursery School (registered, not yet graded). There are 3 more within a kilometre.
How many road collisions happen near Hillborough Junior School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 48 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 8 serious and 40 slight. 7 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 7 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Luton is 28 (the median across 79 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Hillborough Junior School?
Hillborough Junior School is at Hillborough Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU1 5EZ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)