The Downs Primary School and Nursery, Harlow
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
The Downs provides a warm, respectful environment where children thrive academically and socially. The school excels at teaching reading and offers a rich, broad curriculum with plenty of enrichment activities. Children develop real leadership skills and a strong understanding of the diverse world around them.
Key Strengths
- Strong focus on reading with consistent, high-quality phonics teaching that helps pupils learn to read quickly
- Well-planned, coherent curriculum with clear identification of key knowledge and skills from early years to Year 6
- Positive relationships between staff and pupils, creating a safe and happy learning environment
- Meaningful leadership roles for pupils such as house captains and play leaders
- Effective safeguarding arrangements and strong engagement with parents and staff
Areas for Improvement
- Individual support plans for pupils with special educational needs do not always reflect their precise needs, affecting consistency of support in lessons
- Occasionally, staff expectations in early years are not high enough, which can affect children's engagement and learning
- Supporting pupils who join mid-year to catch up with the curriculum from the start of their formal education
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with school leaders creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Victory in Europe day celebrations, singing performances, community visitors including local rabbi, trips, visits, assemblies, whole-school themed events, playleader activities, before-school childcare
The Downs Primary School and Nursery is a Good school that has made rapid progress since its previous 'Requires improvement' rating. Pupils are polite, respectful, and engaged in learning across a broad and balanced curriculum.
At a Glance
26.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
40 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 71%. Maths has remained stable at around 59%. Writing has declined from 70% to 57%.
Class Sizes
26.8
Avg class size
27.2
Infant (KS1)
26.3
KS2
12
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
86%
Available places
362 pupils
420 capacity
58 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Harlow
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Harlow
Admissions Demand - Essex
Places available
17,913
Applications
15,619
Got 1st preference
90.3%
Got preferred school
98.4%
Primary admissions across Essex (2025/26)
Inspection History(3)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.76915%
Overall absence
15.04178%
Persistent absence
359
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
The Downs Primary School and Nursery
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