Harris Primary Academy Orpington, Orpington
Harris Primary Academy Orpington is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Orpington, part of Harris Federation. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 18th-highest of the 23 schools in Orpington with published results, and 11,035th of 14,452 across England. It was 68% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Bromley (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Harris Primary Academy Orpington in detail
Harris Primary Academy Orpington in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Our aim is to provide our pupils with a well-rounded and enjoyable education that ensures each child succeeds academically, physically and emotionally - preparing them for life in an ever-changing world."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include dance and drama.
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am and after-school care.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 71% of Year 6 pupils at Harris Primary Academy Orpington reached the expected standard in reading and 65% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 81% and 79% in Bromley and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 78% in reading and 76% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Harris Primary Academy Orpington
For September 2026 entry, 13 families put Harris Primary Academy Orpington as their first choice and 54 named it as one of their preferences, for 19 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Harris Primary Academy Orpington
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Harris Primary Academy Orpington are St Philomena's Primary School (0.2 miles, Good, 96% reading, 93% maths); Orion Blenheim (0.5 miles, Good, 79% reading, 75% maths); St. Mary Cray Primary Academy (0.5 miles, Good, 63% reading, 47% maths); and Perry Hall Primary School (0.9 miles, Outstanding, 94% reading, 94% maths).
Harris Primary Academy Orpington's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.
St Philomena's Primary SchoolOrion BlenheimSt. Mary Cray Primary AcademyPerry Hall Primary School
The trust
Harris Primary Academy Orpington is one of 59 schools run by Harris Federation, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 79% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
What parents say
41 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Harris Primary Academy Orpington (as of September 2025): 90% would recommend the school, 95% say their child is happy there and 93% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (98%); the weakest, that the school supports their child's wider development (85%).
Who goes there
38.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 30 pupils (11.2%) received SEN support and 29 (10.8%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.
Harris Primary Academy Orpington has a resourced provision (18 places, 18 pupils on roll) and a SEN unit (18 places, 18 pupils on roll) for autism.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is St Mary Cray Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Dyke Drive, 220 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Harris Primary Academy Orpington issued 13 suspensions, 4.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Harris Primary Academy Orpington are Harris Academy Orpington (0.3 miles) and St Olave's and St Saviour's Grammar School (1 mile).
Harris Academy OrpingtonSt Olave's and St Saviour's Grammar School
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoThis judgement is from July 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school has improved significantly.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Harris Primary Academy Orpington is an ambitious school with a 'success for all' vision where disadvantaged pupils thrive alongside their peers. Teachers are experts at their craft, continuously checking pupils' understanding and using skilled questioning to help children learn. The school is highly inclusive and welcoming, with strong support for all learners including those with additional needs.
Key Strengths
- Pupils achieve exceptionally high standards in reading, writing and mathematics, exceeding national averages
- Expert curriculum delivery with skilled teaching that checks understanding and addresses misconceptions quickly
- Very strong support for pupils with SEND, including an exemplary autism provision
- Excellent behaviour and a calm, orderly school environment
- Strong culture of reading with pupils developing as confident, fluent readers
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with the school creating an open and positive culture where pupils feel secure and know who to turn to with concerns.
Extracurricular Activities
Pupil parliament, eco-warriors roles, house captains, singing leaders, community outreach activities, trips to local library
Harris Primary Academy Orpington is a primary school where pupils thrive in their learning and achieve exceptionally well across the curriculum. Evidence suggests the school's work has improved significantly since its previous good rating in 2019.
At a Glance
38.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Resourced provision and SEN unit: Autism
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
41 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 78% to 71% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 76% to 65% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 78% to 73% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
22.4
Avg class size
25.7
Infant (KS1)
24.6
KS2
12
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Harris Primary Academy Orpington
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Harris Primary Academy Orpington.
- Ambitious Learning At Orpington High Steet790m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Harris Primary Academy Orpington from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Harris Primary Academy Orpington is in Bromley; for families living there:
Apply to Bromley for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 17
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 17 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 15 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
3 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Bromley is 19 (the median across 119 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Harris Primary Academy Orpington
Will you get a place at Harris Primary Academy Orpington? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Harris Primary Academy Orpington's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Harris Primary Academy Orpington:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Harris Primary Academy Orpington.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Bromley, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Harris Primary Academy Orpington for 2017 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Bromley got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
68%
Available places
284 pupils
420 places
136 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Orpington
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Orpington
Across Bromley council
Places available
3,982
Applications
3,203
Got 1st preference
87.7%
Got preferred school
99.2%
All primary applications across Bromley council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
30
SEN Support
29
EHC Plans
21.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Harris Primary Academy Orpington has a resourced provision (18 places, 18 pupils on roll) and a SEN unit (18 places, 18 pupils on roll) for autism.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
269
Total Pupils
136
Boys
133
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
15
Teachers
17.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,388
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,286
Per pupil
£1928k
Total funding
£159k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.6%
Overall absence
11.4%
Persistent absence
281
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Harris Primary Academy Orpington
Questions parents ask about Harris Primary Academy Orpington
What are SATs results like at Harris Primary Academy Orpington?
Of the pupils at Harris Primary Academy Orpington who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 71% reached the expected standard in reading and 65% did so in maths.
What is Harris Primary Academy Orpington's Ofsted rating?
Harris Primary Academy Orpington's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in July 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Harris Primary Academy Orpington?
No fixed boundary. When Harris Primary Academy Orpington is oversubscribed, Bromley allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Harris Primary Academy Orpington?
Harris Primary Academy Orpington was not full in 2025: it ran at 68% of its 420 places.
How big are the classes at Harris Primary Academy Orpington?
Classes at Harris Primary Academy Orpington average 22.4 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Harris Primary Academy Orpington?
Harris Primary Academy Orpington has around 269 pupils on roll. 39% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Harris Primary Academy Orpington have specialist SEN provision?
Harris Primary Academy Orpington has a resourced provision (18 places, 18 pupils on roll) and a SEN unit (18 places, 18 pupils on roll) for autism.
What is attendance like at Harris Primary Academy Orpington?
5.6% of sessions were missed at Harris Primary Academy Orpington in 2024/25. 11.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Harris Primary Academy Orpington?
Apply through Bromley's coordinated admissions process, naming Harris Primary Academy Orpington on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Harris Primary Academy Orpington have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Harris Primary Academy Orpington: Ambitious Learning At Orpington High Steet (790m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Harris Primary Academy Orpington?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 17 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 15 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 3 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Bromley is 19 (the median across 119 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Harris Primary Academy Orpington?
Harris Primary Academy Orpington is at Dyke Drive, Orpington, Kent, BR5 4LZ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)