SchoolScoresHarlowbury Primary School
Academy · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed
Part of NET ACADEMIES TRUST
Watlington Road, Old Harlow, Harlow, CM17 0DX
01279 423444 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 16 June 2026 , published 19 July 2026.
In short: 5 expected, 2 needs attention, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Early yearsNursery and reception classes. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
26 pupils in this year group.
65% — 2 points above the Essex average, and 3 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 65% | 63% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 10% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 85% | 77% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 85% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 69% | 76% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 103 | 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 | 30 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 22 |
| Of those, offered a place | 22 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 71 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.7 · 2026: 0.7
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
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision and a SEN unit with 40 places for speech, language and communication needs. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 26th highest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Higher than 31% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 14.7% | 21.7%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 1st highest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Higher than 88% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 6.1% | 2.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 22nd highest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Higher than 38% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 12.6% | 13.9%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 17th highest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Higher than 74% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 25.8% | 12.2%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 27th lowest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Lower than 18% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.3% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 17th lowest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Lower than 41% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 13.2% | 13.0%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 17th lowest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Lower than 42% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.5 | 3.3 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 18th lowest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Lower than 39% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.0% | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 31st highest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Higher than 6% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 14.5 | 21.9 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 28th highest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Higher than 20% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 8.9 | 11.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 27th highest of 30 state primary schools in Harlow. Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby primary schools
- Fawbert and Barnard's Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2022 · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- Churchgate CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School, Harlow 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 35% met expected standard (KS2)
- Newhall Primary Academy 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Tany's Dell Primary School and Nursery 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 83% met expected standard (KS2)
- Church Langley Community Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2024 · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery 1.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 38% met expected standard (KS2)
- Henry Moore Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 78% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Alban's Catholic Academy 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- High Wych CofE Primary School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Freshwaters Primary Academy 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2025 · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Harlowbury Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Harlowbury Primary School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 16 June 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 5 expected, 2 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.
How did Harlowbury Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 65% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 3 points above the England average of 62%.
Is Harlowbury Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 22 families put Harlowbury Primary School as their first choice for 30 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 22 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 144664.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- 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.