Katherines Primary Academy and Nursery

Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class

Part of NET ACADEMIES TRUST

Brookside, Harlow, CM19 5NJ

01279 421495 · School website · Map and directions

Ofsted report card1 strong, 6 expectedSafeguarding met · 17 March 2026
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths73%England 62% · 2024/25
Joint 9th highest of 30 state primary schools in Harlow.
Higher than 72% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils234Room for 315 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 285 in 2019, 278 in 2021, 288 in 2022, 294 in 2023, 271 in 2024, 251 in 2025, 234 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.926 for 28 places, September 2026
15th highest of 30 state primary schools in Harlow.
Higher than 31% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 17 March 2026 , published 10 June 2026.

In short: 1 strong, 6 expected, 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.

AreaGrade
SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. Met
InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
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. Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than 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.

What parents say

27 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.

Essex comparisons use the 24 of its 444 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 420 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.

StatementThis schoolEssexEngland
My child is happy at this school
13th highest of 24 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Essex.
Higher than 69% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
96% 94% 83%
My child feels safe at this school
Joint 10th highest of 24 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Essex.
Higher than 65% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
96% 94% 85%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
6th highest of 24 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Essex.
Higher than 83% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
96% 88% 78%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 22 parents who had raised a concern
7th highest of 22 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Essex.
Higher than 76% of 1,062 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
91% 85% 74%
I would recommend this school to another parent
11th highest of 24 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Essex.
Higher than 70% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
96%said yes 93% 83%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 11%). 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. Essex figures pool parents at the Essex 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. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25

40 pupils in this year group.

73% — 10 points above the Essex average, and 11 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolEssexEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 73% 63% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 8% 10% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 80% 77% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 75% 73% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 75% 76% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 108 106 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 106 105 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
50% 60% 70% 80% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 75%This school 2023/24: 67%This school 2024/25: 73% This school England 62% 2022/23 75% 2023/24 67% 2024/25 73%

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 offered28
Families who put it first26
Of those, offered a place26 (100%)
Families who listed it at all41

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.

Admissions dates and schools in Essex

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolEssexEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
14th highest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow.
Higher than 69% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
31.4% 21.7%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
11th highest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow.
Higher than 54% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
3.2% 2.9%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
28th highest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow.
Higher than 25% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
10.8% 13.9%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
7th highest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow.
Higher than 82% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
35.5% 12.2%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
10th lowest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow.
Lower than 62% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
4.6% 5.3%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
13th lowest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow.
Lower than 53% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
11.3% 13.0%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
Joint 1st lowest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow.
Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.0 3.3 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
Joint 1st lowest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow.
Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.0% 1.4% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.03% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
6th highest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow.
Higher than 88% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
24.4 21.9 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
1st highest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow.
Higher than 95% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
14.8 11.3 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
5th highest of 30 state primary schools in Harlow.
Higher than 87% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
27.8% 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

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Katherines Primary Academy and Nursery's Ofsted rating?

Katherines Primary Academy and Nursery was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 17 March 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 1 strong, 6 expected, and safeguarding was met.

How did Katherines Primary Academy and Nursery do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 73% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 11 points above the England average of 62%.

Would parents recommend Katherines Primary Academy and Nursery?

96% of the 27 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Katherines Primary Academy and Nursery to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Katherines Primary Academy and Nursery oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 26 families put Katherines Primary Academy and Nursery as their first choice for 28 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 26 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.