Hillcrest Academy, Leeds

Ofsted's report card from its 19 May 2026 inspection grades Hillcrest Academy on 7 areas: 7 strong standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Strong standard. "Pupils' published achievements in national tests is in line with their peers."

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders have a robust and detailed understanding of pupils' attendance rates."

Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Pupils benefit from a broad, ambitious and rich curriculum."

Early years - Strong standard. "Children thrive in early years."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders take precise and highly effective action to meet the needs of pupils."

Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders, staff and those responsible for governance share a clear, ambitious and inclusive vision for the school and its pupils."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "A carefully crafted personal development offer is complimented by a well considered personal, social and health education (PSHE) curriculum."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders and those responsible for governance should sustain their work across all areas in order to secure a transformational impact on pupil outcomes and experiences including those who are disadvantaged, those with special educational needs and/or disabilities".

In 2025, 76% of Year 6 pupils at Hillcrest Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 81% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 76% in Leeds and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 66% in reading and 60% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 45 families put Hillcrest Academy as their first choice and 128 named it as one of their preferences, for 49 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Hillcrest Academy are Bankside Primary School (0.2 miles, Good, 46% reading, 50% maths); Holy Rosary and St Anne's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy (0.3 miles, 61% reading, 68% maths); Bracken Edge Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 74% reading, 72% maths); and Harehills Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 61% reading, 60% maths).

Hillcrest Academy's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.

Hillcrest Academy is one of 15 schools run by The Gorse Academies Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 54% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

33.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 62.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Asian (51%), Black (22%) and Mixed (9%).

In 2026, 94 pupils (20.2%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) 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.

The nearest railway station is Leeds Rail Station, about 1.6 miles away in a straight line.

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Cowper Street Hamilton Pl (w bound), 60 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Hillcrest Academy stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 791 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, vehicle crime and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Leeds (229), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Hillcrest Academy issued 11 suspensions, 2.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Hillcrest Academy are Dixons Trinity Chapeltown (0.3 miles), Co-op Academy Leeds (0.8 miles), Roundhay School (1.1 miles) and Adel Beck (1.2 miles).