Harlesden Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 9 June 2026

Pupils are happy at Harlesden Primary School. The school is a welcoming and friendly environment, where pupils are nurtured and supported. Pupils and staff have positive relationships. Staff know the pupils very well. Pupils appreciate the help, guidance and support that they receive. Pupils benefit from effective pastoral provision that supports their wellbeing. Any additional support reduces pupils' barriers effectively. Many pupils attend school regularly, and some say 'here every day, ready on time and every minute matters’, highlighting the importance of being at school. While this is the case, overall attendance for pupils remains below the national average. Leaders' recent drive to improve this is bringing about early signs of improvement, but it remains an area of focus. Children in the early years receive mixed experiences. Children are safe and cooperate well with one another. They know and follow the well-established rules and routines. Children typically enjoy the activities available and develop their curiosity. However, the learning experiences provided by staff are inconsistent and do not maximise learning opportunities. Pupils' behaviour is positive. Older pupils demonstrate mature attitudes to their learning. Pupils enjoy participating and contributing to their learning. In lessons where learning is effectively structured, they are eager to learn. Over time, pupils typically acquire the knowledge and skills they need to be equipped for the next stage of their learning. Bullying is rare, and the school does not tolerate this. Pupils are safe and confident to report concerns to staff. Any issues are addressed and dealt with appropriately. Pupils benefit from an effectively crafted personal development programme. Pupils appreciate, and are enthusiastic about, the opportunities to visit a wide range of places such as museums, faith and artistic institutions, and important landmarks in London. These opportunities develop their understanding of the world around them and prepare them for living and working in a diverse community.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should continue to build on recent action to improve pupils' attendance, so that current gains are sustained for all pupils, and especially for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
• Leaders should ensure the implementation of the early years curriculum is in line with their expectations so that staff maximise learning opportunities with activities that are precisely matched to learning intentions, and staff routinely promote and extend children’s learning and vocabulary.
• Leaders should further develop and strengthen their strategic oversight of the quality of teaching and learning, so that all pupils, including children in the early years, consistently benefit from high-quality teaching that includes effective adaptations to meet pupils' needs, and routinely checks pupils' understanding and addresses misconceptions.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)