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The Hills Academy
Primary · Mixed · Ages 3–11 · Academy
Stancliffe Road, Bedford MK41 9AT · thehillsacademy.co.uk · 01234 266498
On the mapSearch near MK41 9AT
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Feb 2020
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 63%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Bedford 57%, England 62%
- Demand for places
- 1.2
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 442
- 22 over 420 places · 105%
- Local authority
- Bedford
- Nursery class
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 9.3%
- First language not English
- 22.9%
- School census 2025/26
- Trust
- The Hills Academy
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, 72 families put the school first and 59 places were offered; 82% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Reception | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 59 | 72 | 1.2▲ | 82% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 59 | 63 | 1.1▲ | 90% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 47 | 46 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 46 | 45 | 1 | 98% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 60 | 65 | 1.1▲ | 88% |
Results
In 2024/25, 63% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 10% the higher standard. Across Bedford it was 57%, and across England 62%.
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ●63% | 62% | ||
| ●10% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●105 | 106 | ||
| ●104 | 105 | ||
| ●105 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
The Hills Academy was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 5 February 2020, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework. An ungraded inspection in Mar 2025 found: Standards maintained.
- Outcome
- Standards maintained
- Inspected
- 11 Mar 2025
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Feb 2020
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Feb 2020Good
Quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Jan 2007Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Early years Outstanding
What parents said
90% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (123 replies, to 1 September 2025).
- Recommend
- 90%
- Replies
- 123
- 28% · 1 Sept 2025
based on the 80% who raised concerns
based on the 31% who had a child bullied
based on 25 parents (20%) with SEND