Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery, Harlow

From the headteacher's welcome: "Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery was formed on 1st December 2013 for children aged 3 to 11. We are part of BMAT, a cooperative trust of schools based in the South-East of England. At Cooks Spinney, we believe in our vision: Growing Minds. Guiding Futures."

Coming up: an open day on Friday 30 October 2026, an open day on Wednesday 11 November 2026, an open day on Thursday 12 November 2026 and an open day on Monday 16 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 55% of Year 6 pupils at Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery reached the expected standard in reading and 46% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 76% in Essex and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 65% in reading and 73% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 55 families put Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery as their first choice and 94 named it as one of their preferences, for 59 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery are Tany's Dell Primary School and Nursery (0.5 miles, Good, 95% reading, 90% maths); St Alban's Catholic Academy (0.5 miles, Good, 73% reading, 80% maths); Freshwaters Primary Academy (0.6 miles, Good, 88% reading, 88% maths); and Church Langley Community Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 84% reading, 86% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery.

Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery is one of 12 schools run by Bmat Education, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 56% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

61 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery (as of September 2025): 74% would recommend the school, 80% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child does well at the school (85%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).

41.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 25.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (59%), Mixed (10%) and Asian (8%).

Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery has a resourced provision for social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Harlow Town Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Ashlyns (opposite), 250 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 339 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Essex (97), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery issued 144 suspensions, 31.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 5 permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery are Burnt Mill Academy (0.5 miles), Mark Hall Academy (0.6 miles), Bmat Stem Academy (0.9 miles) and St Mark's West Essex Catholic School (0.9 miles).