Fawbert and Barnard's Primary School, Old Harlow

Ofsted's report card from its 14 July 2026 inspection grades Fawbert and Barnard's Primary School on 7 areas: 7 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils typically achieve well."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Attendance is consistently above national averages."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Soon after the school joined the trust, leaders identified the need to improve the curriculum and the school's approach to teaching."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders place a strong emphasis on the early years."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders, including those in the trust, have strengthened the strategic leadership of special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "School leaders, trust leaders and trustees share a clear and ambitious vision for the school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders provide a coherent programme for personal development that runs through the curriculum and wider school life."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teachers consistently use checks on pupils' understanding to adapt learning, so that all pupils make strong progress from their starting points"; "Leaders should continue their work to improve communication with parents and carers and staff about pupils' learning and behaviour and the ongoing development of the school so that pupils can be supported more effectively to achieve well".

In its own words: "I'm delighted to welcome you and your family to our school community and look forward to sharing your child's journey through primary school with you. The early years of a child's life are so important in shaping who they are and who they might become."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, hockey, gymnastics, multi-sports, karate, dance, drama, choir and cooking.

Coming up: an open day on Tuesday 10 November 2026, an open day on Tuesday 17 November 2026, an open evening on Wednesday 18 November 2026 and an open day on Tuesday 24 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 62% of Year 6 pupils at Fawbert and Barnard's Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 62% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 76% in Essex and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 87% in reading and 87% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 34 families put Fawbert and Barnard's Primary School as their first choice and 130 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 6 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Fawbert and Barnard's Primary School are Harlowbury Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 85% reading, 69% maths); Tany's Dell Primary School and Nursery (0.6 miles, Good, 95% reading, 90% maths); Newhall Primary Academy (0.7 miles, Good, 78% reading, 78% maths); and Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery (0.8 miles, Good, 55% reading, 46% maths).

Fawbert and Barnard's Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

Fawbert and Barnard's Primary School is one of 9 schools run by Net Academies Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 75% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

9.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 10.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (75%) and Mixed (10%).

The nearest railway station is Harlow Mill Rail Station, about 960 metres away (roughly a 12-minute walk).

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Chippingfield (opposite), 110 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 218 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, Fawbert and Barnard's Primary School issued 3 suspensions, 1.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Fawbert and Barnard's Primary School are Mark Hall Academy (0.2 miles) and Burnt Mill Academy (1.1 miles).