SchoolScoresHoly Cross Catholic Primary School, Harlow
Academy · Primary, ages 5 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic
Part of HOLY CROSS CATHOLIC PRIMARY ACADEMY
Tracyes Road, Southern Way, Harlow, CM18 6JJ
01279 424452 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 17 January 2012.
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 |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 9 March 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
63 pupils in this year group.
67% — 4 points above the Essex average, and 5 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 67% | 63% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 6% | 10% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 90% | 77% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 71% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 86% | 76% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 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 about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 50 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 45 |
| Of those, offered a place | 45 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 84 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 0.9
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.
This is a Roman Catholic school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 22nd highest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Higher than 43% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 18.8% | 21.7%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 5th highest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Higher than 75% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.5% | 2.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 29th highest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Higher than 20% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 10.0% | 13.9%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 5th highest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Higher than 85% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 41.1% | 12.2%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 8th lowest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Lower than 68% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.4% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 8th lowest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Lower than 67% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 9.1% | 13.0%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 12th lowest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Lower than 48% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.2 | 3.3 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 16th lowest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Lower than 41% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.0% | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 0.24% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 11th highest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Higher than 80% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 23.3 | 21.9 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 18th highest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Higher than 49% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.7 | 11.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 24th highest of 30 state primary schools in Harlow. Higher than 24% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 5.6% | 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
- Pear Tree Mead Academy 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2011, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- Purford Green Primary School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- Potter Street Academy 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- William Martin CofE Infant and Nursery School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016, before conversion), confirmed 2022
- Latton Green Primary Academy 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023 · 76% met expected standard (KS2)
- William Martin CofE Junior School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Church Langley Community Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2024 · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- Henry Moore Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 78% met expected standard (KS2)
- Abbotsweld Primary Academy 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023 · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- Longwood Primary Academy 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023 · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Holy Cross Catholic Primary School, Harlow's Ofsted rating?
Holy Cross Catholic Primary School, Harlow was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 17 January 2012. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 9 March 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Holy Cross Catholic Primary School, Harlow do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 67% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 5 points above the England average of 62%.
Is Holy Cross Catholic Primary School, Harlow oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 45 families put Holy Cross Catholic Primary School, Harlow as their first choice for 50 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 45 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 136967.
- 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.