Harwell Primary School, Didcot

Ofsted's report card from its 15 September 2026 inspection grades Harwell Primary School on 7 areas: 3 strong standard and 4 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "The importance of high attendance is consistently promoted so that the majority of pupils attend school very well."

Early years - Strong standard. "Children thrive and get off to a positive start in the early years provision."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders have developed a programme of personal development that is broad, extensive and informed by the school's context and pupils' aspirations."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils achieve broadly in line with national averages."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "The planned curriculum is broad and balanced and it provides a well-sequenced programme of learning from the early years to the end of Year 6."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders are ambitious for all pupils."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders and governors are unwavering in their commitment to ensuring the best outcomes and experiences for all pupils."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to ensure that staff identify and address gaps in pupils' knowledge quickly and effectively, particularly in foundational writing skills, so that pupils achieve consistently well"; "Leaders should further embed their new approaches to curriculum and teaching so that activities precisely match the intended learning so that more pupils deepen their knowledge over time".

In 2025, 77% of Year 6 pupils at Harwell Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 65% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 75% in Oxfordshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 83% in reading and 90% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 28 families put Harwell Primary School as their first choice and 108 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 1 family who put it first was not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Harwell Primary School are St Blaise CofE Primary School (1.2 miles, Good, 63% reading, 56% maths); Didcot Primary Academy (1.3 miles, Outstanding, 88% reading, 90% maths); Aureus Primary School (1.4 miles, Outstanding, 88% reading, 80% maths); and Stephen Freeman Primary School (1.7 miles).

Harwell Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.

15.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 7.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (81%) and Asian (6%).

In 2026, 29 pupils (13.8%) received SEN support and 17 (8.1%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

The nearest railway station is Didcot Parkway Rail Station, about 2.4 miles away in a straight line.

2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is High Street (ne-bound), 380 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 19 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Oxfordshire (52).

In 2024/25, Harwell 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 Harwell Primary School are UTC Oxfordshire (1.1 miles) and Aureus School (1.1 miles).