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OpenPrimaryOfsted: Not judgedURN 146157

The Downs Primary School and Nursery

Academy converter · Harlow · CM20 3RB

Ages 3–11 · 362 pupils · Essex

School website

Ofsted

Not judged

KS2 expected (RWM)

45%

Overall absence

5.7%

Admissions demand

0.96 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Not judged

Inspection date

2025-05-20

Overall effectiveness
Not judged
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 2 (2023/24)

Expected standard (RWM)45%
Higher standard (RWM)0%
Avg scaled score — reading
102.0
Avg scaled score — maths
101.0
Avg scaled score — GPS
103.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence5.7%
Persistent absence (10%+)13.3%
Unauthorised2.0%
Authorised absence
3.6%
Severe absence (50%+)
0.8%
Enrolments in measure
360

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for primary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

0.96 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

44

Places offered

47

1st-preference offers

44

Total preferences (any rank)
77
Preferred offers (top 3)
46
Applications from outside LA
2
Offers to outside-LA applicants
2

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill86%

362 pupils · 420 places

Pupils on roll
362
Boys / girls
180 / 182
School capacity
420
Capacity fill
362 / 420 (86%)
Free school meals
26.9%
FSM pupils
89
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy converter

Age range

Ages 3–11

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

2 / 6

  • NurseryHas Nursery Classes
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Academy trust: THE PASSMORES CO-OPERATIVE LEARNING COMMUNITY
Academy trust
THE PASSMORES CO-OPERATIVE LEARNING COMMUNITY
Sponsor
The Passmores Co-operative Learning Community
Headteacher
Headteacher Rob Calderwood

Location

Address
The Hides
Postcode
CM20 3RB
Town
Harlow
County
Essex
Local authority
Essex
District
Harlow
Constituency
Harlow
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed academy converter (primary), Ages 3–11, in Harlow, Essex, 362 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: nursery, academy. Free school meals: 26.9%.

Open schools in Harlow
42
Primary schools in Harlow
31
Academies among open schools in Harlow
74% (31)
Open schools in CM20
10
Primary in CM20
7
Open schools in Essex LA
612
Primary in Essex LA
444

Nearby primary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in HarlowNear CM20

  • Freshwaters Primary Academy

    Ofsted: Standards maintained

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Harlow · CM20 3QA · Essex

    Ages 3–11

    • KS268%
    • Absence6.9%
    • FSM36.8%
    • Demand0.90

    0.3 miles away

  • St Alban's Catholic Academy

    Ofsted: Standards maintained

    Academy converter · Primary

    Harlow · CM20 2NP · Essex

    Ages 3–11

    • KS250%
    • Absence4.9%
    • FSM14.8%
    • Demand0.91

    0.6 miles away

  • Pemberley Academy

    Ofsted: School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Harlow · CM20 1NW · Essex

    Ages 4–11

    • KS284%
    • Absence5.5%
    • FSM24.6%
    • Demand1.40

    0.7 miles away

  • Little Parndon Primary Academy

    Ofsted: Requires improvement

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Harlow · CM20 1PU · Essex

    Ages 4–11

    • KS247%
    • Absence6.3%
    • FSM37.5%
    • Demand0.81

    0.8 miles away

  • Abbotsweld Primary Academy

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Harlow · CM18 6TE · Essex

    Ages 5–11

    • KS273%
    • Absence5.4%
    • FSM31.6%
    • Demand1.00

    0.9 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Headteacher Rob Calderwood
Telephone
01279445538
Website
www.downsschool.com

Official links