Hilton Lane Primary School, located in Little Hulton, Manchester, has recently undergone an ungraded inspection on April 18 and 19, 2023. The overall judgement of the school remains good, although the evidence suggests that a graded inspection might yield a lower rating if conducted now. Inspectors have recommended that the next inspection should be a graded one.
The school fosters a positive and welcoming environment where pupils feel part of a happy community. Leaders prioritize strong pastoral support, contributing to the overall development of the students. Pupils are friendly and eager to impress their teachers, demonstrating a commitment to the school’s values of being ready, respectful, and safe. Behaviour expectations are high, and pupils generally meet these standards, moving sensibly around the school and treating each other with kindness and empathy. Incidents of bullying are addressed promptly, ensuring a safe atmosphere for all.
While most pupils engage actively in lessons and enjoy learning, there are notable weaknesses in the curriculum's design and delivery. Some pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities, do not achieve their full potential, particularly in reading. Additionally, certain staff members do not maintain high expectations for all pupils' achievements.
The school offers a variety of opportunities for pupils, such as Year 6 students taking on responsibilities like dinner duty. The extracurricular program has been expanded to include sports, cooking, drama, and choir, which pupils are enthusiastic about.
Leaders have developed a broad and balanced curriculum that is ambitious for pupils. In most subjects, the knowledge pupils should acquire is clearly identified and logically ordered. However, in a few subjects, there is less clarity regarding the learning objectives and the timing of content delivery, which can hinder teachers in planning effective lessons.
Most teachers possess strong subject knowledge, enabling them to deliver new concepts effectively. However, some do not utilize assessment strategies effectively to gauge pupils' understanding, leading to misconceptions that are not addressed in a timely manner. This impacts pupils' ability to build a comprehensive knowledge base across the curriculum.
Reading is a priority for the school, and staff generally ensure that the books provided to pupils align with their phonics knowledge. This approach has led to improvements in fluency and confidence among pupils. Recently, leaders have broadened access to high-quality texts, encouraging a culture of reading for pleasure. However, some staff lack the expertise to deliver the phonics program as intended, which affects the progress of pupils, particularly those who struggle with reading.
Leaders have established effective safeguarding arrangements, ensuring that staff are aware of the signs of potential harm and follow procedures diligently. The school community is well-informed about keeping safe, including online safety practices.
To improve, the school needs to address the training of staff in delivering the phonics curriculum effectively, ensuring that all pupils receive the support they need to catch up. Additionally, leaders should clarify learning objectives in subjects where this is lacking and enhance assessment strategies to better identify and address misconceptions. Finally, staff should be equipped to adapt the curriculum for pupils with special educational needs to ensure they achieve their potential. Overall, while Hilton Lane Primary School has many strengths, there are clear areas for development that need to be addressed to enhance the educational experience for all pupils.
