'Ambitious and rich curriculum' praised as Leeds academy maintains strong standards - Ofsted report

The “ambitious and rich curriculum” at an academy in Leeds has been praised by Ofsted inspectors.

Hillcrest Academy, located on Cowper Street, Chapeltown, received a ‘Strong standard’ rating in all seven categories during a May 2026 inspection.

The school received a ‘Strong standard’ rating for achievement, attendance and behaviour, curriculum and teaching, early years, inclusion, leadership and governance, personal development and wellbeing.

It maintained the school’s strong standards after receiving an Outstanding rating under Ofsted’s old grading system in both 2016 and 2022.

“Pupils benefit from a broad, ambitious and rich curriculum,” the education watchdog said. “This is carefully planned and sequenced so that pupils build their knowledge and skills effectively over time. Leaders ensure that pupils have ample opportunities to practise key learning in reading, writing and mathematics.

“Published achievements in national tests is in line with their peers. However, pupils’ knowledge and skills across the curriculum build rapidly over time from their varied starting points. They are extremely well prepared for their next steps in learning.”

Leaders have a robust and detailed understanding of pupils’ attendance rates, according to the report. They take intelligent and swift action to ensure that pupils’ attendance improves over time. This is through a range of appropriate and very well considered strategies.

They have the “highest expectations” for behaviour and attitudes. Pupils are supported to rise to these expectations with ease and confidence.

Children thrive in the early years setup at Hillcrest. Leaders ensure that the starting points of children are known and understood across the staff team. This, along with the carefully designed and ordered curriculum, means that children consistently build important early knowledge and skills in readiness for year 1.

Staff have a “clear understanding” of the wide range of needs that pupils who attend the school have. This includes those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, those known to social care and those who speak English as an additional language.

Inspectors added: “This is a school where everyone is welcome. Staff support pupils consistently well to succeed both personally and academically. Pupils flourish. From the moment that they join, they are welcomed into a diverse and caring school community.

“Pupils know that adults in school will take care of them. They have trusted staff that they can go to if they are worried. Bullying is rare. Pupils show consistently kind and respectful behaviour and attitudes towards each other.”

Leaders, staff and those responsible for governance share a clear, ambitious and inclusive vision for the school and its pupils, according to the report. Adults work together effectively and with consistency to ensure that the school makes a difference to all pupils.

The school’s carefully crafted personal development offer is complimented by a well considered personal, social and health education (PSHE) curriculum.

Pupils understanding of how to keep themselves safe is “detailed.” They know what needs to be reported to important adults. Pupils have an age-appropriate understanding of consent, vaping and what healthy relationships are.