SchoolScoresThe Downs Primary School and Nursery
Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of THE PASSMORES CO-OPERATIVE LEARNING COMMUNITY
The Hides, Harlow, CM20 3RB
01279 445538 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 20 May 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
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 |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
40 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 10th highest of 16 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Harlow. Higher than 47% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 90% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 10th highest of 16 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Harlow. Higher than 34% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 90% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 9th highest of 16 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Harlow. Higher than 37% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88% | 84% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 14 parents whose child had been bullied 3rd highest of 9 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Harlow. Higher than 72% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 64% | 47% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 30 parents who had raised a concern 8th highest of 15 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Harlow. Higher than 48% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 83% | 72% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 13 parents of children with SEND 1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Harlow. Higher than 58% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 77% | 53% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 8th highest of 16 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Harlow. Higher than 44% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 90%said yes | 83% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 10%). 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
56 pupils in this year group.
52% — 11 points below the Essex average, and 10 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 52% | 63% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 4% | 10% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 71% | 77% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 57% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 59% | 76% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 103 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 102 | 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 | 39 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 35 |
| Of those, offered a place | 35 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 73 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 8th highest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Higher than 74% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 34.9% | 21.7%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 26th highest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Higher than 23% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.7% | 2.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 2nd highest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Higher than 87% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 22.1% | 13.9%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 2nd highest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Higher than 87% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 43.5% | 12.2%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 22nd lowest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Lower than 29% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.8% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 24th lowest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Lower than 32% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 15.0% | 13.0%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 22nd lowest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Lower than 25% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 3.2 | 3.3 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 23rd lowest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Lower than 23% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.7% | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 0.25% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 18th highest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Higher than 55% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 21.0 | 21.9 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 22nd highest of 31 state primary schools in Harlow. Higher than 39% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.1 | 11.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 13th highest of 30 state primary schools in Harlow. Higher than 56% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 14.1% | 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
- Freshwaters Primary Academy 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2025 · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Alban's Catholic Academy 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Pemberley Academy 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed, may be improving 2024 · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- William Martin CofE Junior School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hare Street Community Primary School and Nursery 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2020), confirmed 2025 · 85% met expected standard (KS2)
- Little Parndon Primary Academy 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery 0.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 38% met expected standard (KS2)
- Abbotsweld Primary Academy 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023 · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- William Martin CofE Infant and Nursery School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016, before conversion), confirmed 2022
- St Luke's Catholic Academy 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Downs Primary School and Nursery's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 20 May 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
How did The Downs Primary School and Nursery do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 52% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 10 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend The Downs Primary School and Nursery?
90% of the 40 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend The Downs Primary School and Nursery to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is The Downs Primary School and Nursery oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 35 families put The Downs Primary School and Nursery as their first choice for 39 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 35 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 146157.
- 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.