Harlowbury Primary School, Harlow

Ofsted's report card from its 16 June 2026 inspection grades Harlowbury Primary School on 7 areas: 5 expected standard and 2 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils develop strong foundational knowledge, particularly in early reading and phonics, where teaching is systematic and consistent."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Pupils enjoy coming to school and do not like to miss out."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders create a calm, safe and nurturing environment, where children feel secure and valued."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders demonstrate a strong and accurate understanding of the school's strengths and priorities for improvement."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders place wellbeing, character and readiness for the future at the centre of school life."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Leaders have established a clearer, more coherent curriculum in English and mathematics."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "Leaders identify pupils' needs with increasing accuracy through improved assessment, stronger communication and quicker access to specialist advice."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teachers have the skills and knowledge to successfully adapt their teaching to meet pupils' needs, ability and understanding"; "Leaders should ensure the curriculum is sequenced, well planned and suitable for pupils across all subjects, while providing pupils with opportunities to deepen their understanding"; "Leaders should continue to embed new systems and processes to ensure they have an accurate understanding of individual pupils' needs".

From the headteacher's welcome: "On behalf of the staff, children and governors, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to Harlowbury Primary School. Our motto Believe, Succeed, Inspire captures the heart of our school."

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:40am and after-school care.

Coming up: an open day on Monday 9 November 2026, an open day on Monday 16 November 2026 and an open day on Thursday 26 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 85% of Year 6 pupils at Harlowbury Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 69% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 76% in Essex and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (77% in reading, 73% in maths).

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

For September 2026 entry, 22 families put Harlowbury Primary School as their first choice and 71 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 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 Harlowbury Primary School are Fawbert and Barnard's Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 62% reading, 62% maths); Churchgate Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Harlow (0.5 miles, Good, 83% reading, 43% maths); Newhall Primary Academy (0.8 miles, Good, 78% reading, 78% maths); and Tany's Dell Primary School and Nursery (1.1 miles, Good, 95% reading, 90% maths).

Harlowbury Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Harlowbury 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.

13.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 33.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (57%), Asian (13%) and Mixed (11%).

In 2026, 15 pupils (8.2%) received SEN support and 13 (7.1%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is autism.

Harlowbury Primary School has a resourced provision (20 places, 18 pupils on roll) and a SEN unit (20 places, 18 pupils on roll) for speech, language and communication needs.

Harlowbury Primary School had 13 teachers in 2026, one for every 15 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Harlow Mill Rail Station, about 880 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Oxleys (adjacent), 210 metres away.

In 2024/25, Harlowbury Primary School issued 3 suspensions, 1.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.