The Downs Primary School and Nursery
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
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 20 May 2025
Pupils who attend The Downs Primary School and Nursery are polite and respectful. Staff model these qualities effectively so that pupils respond positively to what is expected of them. Staff know pupils well and build positive relationships. This helps pupils to feel safe and happy. The school has high expectations of pupils' behaviour and learning. Pupils study a broad and balanced curriculum. Staff make learning interesting for pupils. Pupils are encouraged to work hard. They are generally attentive and engaged in their learning. This helps them to achieve. Pupils behave well in lessons and during social times. They play well together in the playground using the range of games and activities on offer. Playleaders support younger pupils to play games appropriately. Pupils have a deep understanding of the diverse world they live in. They know how they can make a positive contribution to society. Pupils have a range of leadership roles and responsibilities such as house captains, play leaders and subject ambassadors. The school has ensured these roles are meaningful. This allows pupils to have a positive impact in the areas they lead.
What the school should improve
- The school's approach to supporting pupils with SEND is not consistently effective, because pupils' individual plans do not reflect their needs well enough. This means that pupils with SEND are not supported consistently well in lessons. The school should ensure that the individual plans for pupils with SEND identify their needs precisely so that staff can meet them consistently in lessons.
- Occasionally, the expectations of staff when implementing the early years curriculum could be higher. This means that sometimes children are not as engaged in their learning as they should be. The school should ensure that staff have consistently high expectations of children when learning in the early years so that children achieve even better.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
56 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
362 pupils on roll, with places for 420
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
- 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.