The FMS Inspection Score is FindMySchool's proprietary analysis based on official Ofsted and ISI inspection reports. It converts ratings into a standardised 1–10 scale for fair comparison across all schools in England.
Disclaimer: The FMS Inspection Score is an independent analysis by FindMySchool. It is not endorsed by or affiliated with Ofsted or ISI. Always refer to the official Ofsted or ISI report for the full picture of a school’s inspection outcome.
Highfield Primary School in Charville, Hillingdon is a mixed, state primary for ages 3 to 11, with nursery provision. The school frames daily expectations through five child-friendly values, safety, caring, achievement, resilience and friendship, and the culture is built around warm relationships and clear routines. The latest Ofsted inspection (15 and 16 October 2024) was an ungraded visit and confirmed the school has maintained the standards identified at the previous inspection.
On performance, the headline for parents is a steady, broadly in-line picture with some positives. In 2024, 68.33% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, above the England average of 62%. Scaled scores sit at 102 for reading, 104 for maths and 105 for grammar, punctuation and spelling, with a combined total score of 311.
Admissions pressure is real. For the Reception entry route there were 77 applications for 20 offers, which is 3.85 applications per place, and the school is marked as oversubscribed. If you are shortlisting, use the FindMySchool Map Search to understand how your address compares to local demand patterns, then back it up with the local authority criteria and the school’s published admissions arrangements.
Highfield is explicit about the kind of place it wants to be. The school describes itself as small and caring, aiming to provide a warm and secure atmosphere where each child can fulfil their potential, and it stresses respectful behaviour and close collaboration between pupils and adults. That matters because it points to a school where social development is not treated as an optional extra, it is baked into how teachers expect children to learn.
Day-to-day, the strongest signals are consistency and structure. Rules and routines are clearly established from the early years onwards, so classrooms stay calm and pupils can focus. The model appears to be simple but deliberate, teach children how to learn (turn taking, listening, sustaining attention), then build ambitious content on top.
Leadership stability is another defining feature. Ms Lisa Corrigan is listed as headteacher, with governance documents showing a headteacher start date of 2 September 2013. A long-tenured head can be a real advantage in primary, because initiatives have time to embed and staff expectations become coherent rather than changeable year by year.
Highfield’s 2024 key stage 2 results show a school slightly above England average on the combined expected standard, with a mixed profile underneath.
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths combined): 68.33% vs England average: 62%.
Higher standard (reading, writing, maths): 16.67% vs England average: 8%.
Scaled scores: Reading 102, Maths 104, Grammar, punctuation and spelling 105.
FindMySchool’s rankings place the school at 10,285th in England and 46th in Hillingdon for primary outcomes (a proprietary FindMySchool ranking based on official data). That position translates to below England average overall relative to other schools, even though the combined expected standard is above the England average. The practical implication is that outcomes look steady rather than exceptional, and families should read the detail, particularly if they have a child who needs stronger stretch.
A final nuance, science. The figures show 62% reaching the expected standard in science. If science matters to you, ask how the school secures knowledge recall over time, because sustained recall is a stated improvement focus in the most recent inspection narrative.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
Reading, Writing & Maths
68.33%
% of pupils achieving expected standard
Reading is treated as a priority, starting early. The early years environment is set up to give children lots of opportunities to use letters and language, and pupils who are early in learning to read get targeted support so they can build confidence quickly. The effect parents should look for is momentum, children who begin to decode successfully tend to access the wider curriculum more easily and build independence sooner.
Across subjects, the curriculum is described as ambitious and inclusive, including for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities. In most areas, the school has mapped out the knowledge and skills pupils should learn from early years through Year 6. The area to watch is consistency in a small number of subjects where the progression of knowledge and the evaluation of impact is still developing, because that can show up as weaker long-term recall for some pupils.
One practical strength is the emphasis on subject-specific writing and handwriting, which is described as resulting in very high-quality work. For families, that often translates into clearer presentation, stronger sentence construction, and children who have more confidence when they are asked to explain what they know.
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
FMS Inspection Score calculated by FindMySchool based on official inspection data.
As a maintained primary in Hillingdon, most pupils progress into the local secondary system at the end of Year 6. What matters most at this stage is transition readiness rather than a named destination list. Look for how Year 6 consolidates learning habits, independence, organisation, and the ability to communicate needs calmly, because those factors are often more predictive of a smooth move than any single test score.
For parents who want additional reassurance, ask how the school supports pupils who can find change difficult, and how it shares information with receiving secondary schools. Highfield’s emphasis on wellbeing, routines, and positive staff relationships suggests it is conscious of those handover points, including nursery to Reception, infant to junior, and primary to secondary.
Admissions for Reception to Year 6 are coordinated by the London Borough of Hillingdon, rather than being handled directly by the school. For September 2026 entry, the local authority deadline is Thursday 15 January 2026, with offer day on Thursday 16 April 2026, and an acceptance deadline of Thursday 30 April 2026.
Competition is the key story. The figures record 77 applications for 20 offers on the primary entry route, which indicates an oversubscribed picture. Where this affects families is planning: if you are not very close to a popular school, you need a realistic preference strategy and back-up options.
Highfield offers nursery places from age 3, with the nursery morning session listed as 8.30am to 11.30am. Nursery admissions are handled by contacting the school directly, rather than the borough’s main coordinated Reception process. For nursery funding, families should check eligibility for government-funded hours.
The school’s Reception 2026 page points families to apply via Hillingdon by the January deadline, but does not list open day dates on that page. In practice, many primaries run tours or information sessions in the autumn term. If you are planning for 2026 entry, check the school calendar and ask about typical timings and booking requirements.
100%
1st preference success rate
14 of 14 first-choice applicants received an offer
Places
20
Offers
20
Applications
77
Wellbeing is positioned as a priority, not a side programme. Children are expected to understand and live the school’s values daily, and the culture is described as harmonious and happy, built on trust in adults and positive relationships. For parents, the practical implication is that worries should be surfaced early, and that children should know which adults will help them if something feels wrong.
Attendance and punctuality are treated as a high priority, with leaders analysing absence patterns and working with families and external partners where needed. That systematic approach often correlates with stronger learning continuity, especially for pupils who need routine and predictability.
Ofsted also confirmed safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Highfield’s enrichment offer is strongest where it is specific and routine, not occasional. Leadership roles for pupils are clearly built into school life, including house captains, eco-warriors and school council, which gives children structured opportunities to practise responsibility and voice.
Clubs are unusually well-detailed for a primary website, with a published Spring Term 2026 schedule. Examples include:
Fencing for Years 1 to 6
Musical Theatre for Years 1 to 4
Ukulele for Years 3 to 6
Fitness Club for Years 1 to 6
Board Games Club for Years 1 to 6
Arts and Crafts across multiple days for Years 1 to 6
Clubs run 3.15pm to 4.15pm and are listed at £4.50 per session. If you rely on after-school provision for childcare, that time window may be helpful, but it is not the same as full wraparound to 5.30pm or 6pm, so it is worth checking what longer provision is available locally.
The school day is listed with a soft start at 8.30am, with the morning session running 8.45am to 12.00 noon and the afternoon session 1.00pm to 3.15pm. Nursery mornings are 8.30am to 11.30am.
Breakfast club is referenced on the clubs page, starting at 7.30am, with breakfast provided until 8.15am.
For transport, this is a neighbourhood school in Charville, so walking and short car journeys are common. Parking and drop-off logistics are not detailed on the pages reviewed, so families should verify what the school recommends for safe drop-off and collection, especially if you are driving from outside the immediate area.
Oversubscription pressure. With 77 applications for 20 offers admission is competitive; plan preferences carefully and keep realistic alternatives.
Curriculum consistency in a few subjects. The most recent inspection narrative flags that, in a small number of subjects, curriculum impact and long-term recall are not as secure as they could be; ask what has changed since October 2024 and how progress is checked.
Wraparound needs. Clubs run to 4.15pm and breakfast club starts early, but parents needing care later into the afternoon should confirm what additional after-school childcare is available, and whether it is school-run or delivered by an external provider.
Highfield Primary School suits families who want a values-led primary where relationships, calm routines, and wellbeing are treated as core to learning. Outcomes look steady, with the combined expected standard in 2024 above the England average, and an emphasis on reading and high-quality written work. The main challenge is getting a place, and families should approach admissions with a clear plan and realistic options.
Highfield is currently rated Good, and the most recent inspection (15 and 16 October 2024) confirmed the school has maintained standards. The culture described is calm and supportive, with pupils feeling safe and behaviour described as excellent.
Applications for Reception are made through the London Borough of Hillingdon’s coordinated admissions process. For September 2026 entry, the deadline is Thursday 15 January 2026 and offers are released on Thursday 16 April 2026.
Yes. The school offers nursery provision from age 3, and the nursery morning session is listed as 8.30am to 11.30am. Nursery admissions are handled directly with the school rather than through the borough’s Reception portal.
In 2024, 68.33% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, above the England average of 62%. Reading and maths scaled scores are listed as 102 and 104, with grammar, punctuation and spelling at 105.
The Spring Term 2026 schedule includes fencing, musical theatre, ukulele, fitness club, board games club, and arts and crafts, with sessions running after school.
Get in touch with the school directly
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Information on this page is compiled, analysed, and processed from publicly available sources including the Department for Education (DfE), Ofsted, the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, and official school websites.
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