SchoolScoresFreshwaters Primary Academy
Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of BMAT EDUCATION
School Lane, Harlow, CM20 3QA
01279 454688 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 23 April 2015.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 22 January 2025: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
34 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Harlow comparisons use the 16 of its 31 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 15 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Harlow | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 15th highest of 16 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Harlow. Higher than 4% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 76% | 90% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 13th highest of 16 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Harlow. Higher than 8% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 82% | 90% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 10th highest of 16 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Harlow. Higher than 22% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 82% | 84% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 16 parents whose child had been bullied 5th highest of 9 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Harlow. Higher than 52% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 56% | 47% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 29 parents who had raised a concern 14th highest of 15 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Harlow. Higher than 7% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 59% | 72% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 14th highest of 16 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Harlow. Higher than 12% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 74%said yes | 83% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 8%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Harlow figures pool parents at the Harlow schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
60 pupils in this year group.
62% — about the same as the Essex average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 62% | 63% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 5% | 10% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 88% | 77% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 67% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 88% | 76% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 105 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Essex. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 57 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 48 |
| Of those, offered a place | 48 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 111 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 0.8
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 3rd highest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Higher than 80% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 40.0% | 21.7%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan Joint 8th highest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Higher than 62% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.6% | 2.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 31st highest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Higher than 7% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 7.2% | 13.9%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 15th highest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Higher than 75% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 27.2% | 12.2%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 28th lowest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Lower than 16% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.5% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 28th lowest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Lower than 13% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 20.4% | 13.0%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 19th lowest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Lower than 29% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.7 | 3.3 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 13th lowest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Lower than 48% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.7% | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 17th highest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Higher than 57% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 21.2 | 21.9 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 6th highest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Higher than 78% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 12.5 | 11.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 26th highest of 30 state primary schools in Harlow. Higher than 20% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 4.0% | 13.5%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- The Downs Primary School and Nursery 0.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Alban's Catholic Academy 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery 0.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 38% met expected standard (KS2)
- Pemberley Academy 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed, may be improving 2024 · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Tany's Dell Primary School and Nursery 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 83% met expected standard (KS2)
- William Martin CofE Junior School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hare Street Community Primary School and Nursery 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2020), confirmed 2025 · 85% met expected standard (KS2)
- Little Parndon Primary Academy 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Purford Green Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- William Martin CofE Infant and Nursery School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016, before conversion), confirmed 2022
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Freshwaters Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?
Freshwaters Primary Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 23 April 2015. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 22 January 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did Freshwaters Primary Academy do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 62% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, about the same as the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Freshwaters Primary Academy?
74% of the 34 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Freshwaters Primary Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Freshwaters Primary Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 48 families put Freshwaters Primary Academy as their first choice for 57 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 48 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 139398.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.