The Downs Primary School and Nursery

Primary
Academy
Ages 3 to 11

Ofsted judgements: Good

The Hides, Harlow, CM20 3RBOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

The Downs Primary School and Nursery is a primary school in Harlow for ages 3 to 11. It is one of the 604 schools in Essex. It ranks 25th of 30 primary schools in Harlow. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in May 2025, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 20 May 2025, report published 24 June 2025

This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.

Quality of education: Good
Behaviour and attitudes: Good
Personal development: Good
Leadership and management: Good
Early years provision: Good
Safeguarding: Met

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

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

56 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths52%

52%, 10 percentage points below the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths4%

4%, 4 percentage points below the England average of 8%.

Reading, average scaled score103

103, 3 below the England average of 106.

Maths, average scaled score102

102, 3 below the England average of 105.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling, average scaled score103

103, 2 below the England average of 105.

Pupil numbers and mix

362 pupils on roll, with places for 420

Eligible for free school meals24.6%

24.6%, 1.9 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language45%

45%, 23.4 percentage points above the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support18.5%

18.5%, 3.7 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan2.8%

2.8%, 3.2 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near The Downs Primary School and Nursery

School	Distance	Ofsted	Results
Freshwaters Primary Academy	0.3 miles	Ofsted: Good	62% met the expected standard
St Alban's Catholic Academy	0.6 miles	Ofsted: Good	57% met the expected standard
Pemberley Academy	0.7 miles	Ofsted: Good	67% met the expected standard
William Martin Church of England Junior School	0.7 miles	Ofsted: Good	60% met the expected standard
Hare Street Community Primary School and Nursery	0.7 miles	Ofsted: Outstanding	85% met the expected standard

School details

School type: Academy converter
Sector: Academy
Trust: THE PASSMORES CO-OPERATIVE LEARNING COMMUNITY
Age range: 3 to 11
Gender: Mixed
Nursery classes: Yes
Headteacher: Headteacher Rob Calderwood
Phone: 01279445538
Website: downsschool.com (opens in a new tab)
Address: The Hides, Harlow, CM20 3RB
Local authority: Essex
URN: 146157

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.