Hillside Primary School, Ipswich

Ofsted's report card from its 2 June 2026 inspection grades Hillside Primary School on 7 areas: 5 expected standard and 2 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have prioritised raising attendance."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders have established a well-organised early years provision."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders identify pupils' needs early and provide effective support to help reduce barriers to learning."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have an accurate understanding of the school's strengths and areas for development."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Personal development is woven through the school's curriculum and wider work."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Leaders have prioritised pupils' achievement and published outcomes show improvement."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Leaders have established a broad curriculum and use a range of curriculum resources to support lesson sequencing."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure consistently high‑quality explanations, questioning and task design from all staff to guarantee that pupils benefit from effective learning experiences across the curriculum"; "Leaders should ensure that pupils build, retain and apply secure knowledge and skills over time, particularly in reading and writing"; "Leaders should ensure that staff apply the agreed approaches to adapting learning consistently, so that pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities access learning successfully and achieve well"; "Leaders should improve the quality of adult interactions in the early years, so that opportunities to develop children's language, communication and thinking are routinely maximised".

From the headteacher's welcome: "It is our absolute privilege to welcome you to Hillside Primary School, a vibrant, caring and ambitious school at the heart of our community. At Hillside, we believe that every child deserves to feel valued, supported and inspired. From the moment you walk through our doors, you will find a school filled with warmth, laughter, curiosity and opportunity."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, rugby, cricket, athletics, basketball, multi-sports, STEM, eco club and homework club.

In 2025, 60% of Year 6 pupils at Hillside Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 74% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 72% in Suffolk and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (67% in reading, 71% in maths).

For September 2026 entry, 28 families put Hillside Primary School as their first choice and 36 named it as one of their preferences, for 32 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 Hillside Primary School are Halifax Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 84% reading, 82% maths); St Mark's Catholic Primary School (0.7 miles); St Matthew's Church of England Primary School, Ipswich (0.9 miles, Good, 57% reading, 60% maths); and Cliff Lane Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 76% reading, 81% maths).

Hillside Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.

Hillside Primary School is one of 21 schools run by The Active Learning Trust Limited, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 63% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

44% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 54% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (26%), Black (13%) and Mixed (12%).

The nearest railway station is Ipswich Rail Station, about 610 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).

15 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hillside Primary School (opposite), 120 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 434 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Suffolk (32), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Hillside Primary School issued 3 suspensions, 0.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Hillside Primary School are Stoke High School - Ormiston Academy (0.2 miles); Chantry Academy (0.9 miles); and Learning Support, Southern Area Education Office (0.9 miles).