SchoolScoresHarbour Primary and Nursery School
Community school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed
Church Hill, Newhaven, BN9 9LX
01273 514532 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 4 May 2016.
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 |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 12 March 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
84 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
| Statement | This school | Newhaven | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 2nd highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newhaven. Higher than 35% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 89% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 2nd highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newhaven. Higher than 29% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 91% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 3rd highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newhaven. Higher than 37% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88% | 82% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 21 parents whose child had been bullied 1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newhaven. Higher than 78% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 67% | 53% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 61 parents who had raised a concern 1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newhaven. Higher than 61% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 87% | 73% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 35 parents of children with SEND Joint 12th highest of 32 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in East Sussex. Higher than 71% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 83% | – | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 3rd highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newhaven. Higher than 52% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92%said yes | 86% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 18%). 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. Newhaven figures pool parents at the Newhaven 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
58 pupils in this year group.
74% — 13 points above the East Sussex average, and 12 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | East Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 74% | 61% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 12% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 81% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 76% | 72% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 79% | 71% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 108 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 108 | 104 | 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 East Sussex. 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 about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 60 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 81 |
| Of those, offered a place | 60 (74%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 119 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.2 · 2026: 1.4
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 | East Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 2nd highest of 4 state primary schools in Newhaven. Higher than 80% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 40.0% | 25.4%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 4th highest of 4 state primary schools in Newhaven. Higher than 46% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.8% | 2.1%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 3rd highest of 4 state primary schools in Newhaven. Higher than 87% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 22.2% | 16.2%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 3rd highest of 4 state primary schools in Newhaven. Higher than 45% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 8.0% | 9.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 4 state primary schools in Newhaven. Lower than 9% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 7.2% | 5.7%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 3rd lowest of 4 state primary schools in Newhaven. Lower than 26% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 16.4% | 14.4%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 4th lowest of 4 state primary schools in Newhaven. Lower than 19% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 4.3 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 4th lowest of 4 state primary schools in Newhaven. Lower than 23% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.7% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils | 0.43% | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 2nd highest of 4 state primary schools in Newhaven. Higher than 81% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 23.4 | 20.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 1st highest of 4 state primary schools in Newhaven. Higher than 40% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.2 | 10.9 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 2nd highest of 4 state primary schools in Newhaven. Higher than 68% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 18.2% | 15.0%* | 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
- Breakwater Academy 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 81% met expected standard (KS2)
- High Cliff Academy 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected · 76% met expected standard (KS2)
- Denton Community Primary School and Nursery 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- Meridian Community Primary School and Nursery 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 31% met expected standard (KS2)
- Peacehaven Heights Academy 2.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 79% met expected standard (KS2)
- Telscombe Cliffs Academy 2.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- Seaford Primary School 2.8 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Harbour Primary and Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
Harbour Primary and Nursery School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 4 May 2016. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 12 March 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did Harbour Primary and Nursery School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 74% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 12 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Harbour Primary and Nursery School?
92% of the 84 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Harbour Primary and Nursery School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Harbour Primary and Nursery School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 81 families put Harbour Primary and Nursery School as their first choice for 60 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 60 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 114441.
- 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.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.