What is Freshwaters Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?

Freshwaters Primary Academy has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This is the overall judgement recorded under the inspection framework in use on the inspection date. Read the report and date before comparing it with newer inspections.

What does the admissions demand data show for Freshwaters Primary Academy?

Freshwaters Primary Academy recorded 48 first-choice applications and 57 offers made on national offer day for 2026/27. That is 0.8 first-choice applications per offer made. This is a historic demand signal, not an individual admission probability or a catchment boundary. Admission criteria, address, preferences and the applicant cohort also matter.

Does Freshwaters Primary Academy offer SEND support?

DfE data for Freshwaters Primary Academy lists these SEND need or provision categories: Specific Learning Difficulty (Dyslexia), Social, Emotional & Mental Health, Speech, Language & Communication, Hearing Impairment, Physical Disability, and 2 more categories. This does not guarantee a particular place or service. Contact the school's SENCO for its current provision.

What are Freshwaters Primary Academy's exam results?

Freshwaters Primary Academy's published exam results include: 62% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths at KS2 in 2024/25. Check the result year before comparing schools.

Freshwaters Primary Academy

#19 in Best Primary Schools in Harlow area

Parent reviews

Pupils: 413
Ages: 3–11
Gender: Mixed
School type: Academy sponsor led

About

Freshwaters Primary Academy is a state-funded primary school in Harlow, East of England, for pupils aged 3 to 11 for boys and girls. DfE data records 413 pupils on roll and a published capacity of 446.

The latest recorded Ofsted overall judgement is Good (22 Jan 2025). 62% met the expected KS2 standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25. Admissions data records 48 first-preference applications and 57 offers made on national offer day for 2026/27.

Reporting periods vary by source — Methodology.

School Rating

5/10

Classpot Rating

Freshwaters Primary Academy’s combined academic results and attendance score is in the typical band compared with mainstream state primary schools across England for 2024/25.

5/10Academic results

Typical

62% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of primary school in 2024/25.

The score compares this result with 14,048 mainstream state primary schools in England with both required measures for 2024/25. Academic attainment contributes 90% of the combined score. It measures exam or assessment results, not how much progress pupils made from their starting points.

2/10Attendance

Lower

Overall absence was 6.48% of possible school sessions in 2024/25. This includes authorised and unauthorised absence; it is not the percentage of pupils who were persistently absent.

The score compares absence with 14,048 mainstream state primary schools in England with both required measures for 2024/25. Lower absence receives a higher score. Attendance contributes 10% of the combined score and does not on its own measure teaching quality.

NAPupil progress

Not available for 2024/25

DfE did not publish KS1-to-KS2 progress measures for 2024/25 because the required KS1 assessments were cancelled during the pandemic. Progress would compare pupils’ outcomes with those of pupils with similar earlier attainment.

Pupil progress is not included in this version of Classpot Rating. Its absence does not reduce the school’s score.

Methodology and official sources

Contact Information

01279454688 www.freshwatersacademy.org

School Lane, Harlow, Harlow, CM20 3QA

Miss Jackie Diggle

Details

School Type: Primary (State)
Age Range: 3 to 11 years
Gender: Mixed
Establishment type: Academy sponsor led
Local Authority: Essex
Nursery Classes: Yes

The full reporton this school

School admissions data, what the Ofsted report means for you, and how it compares to nearby schools.

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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

Good

Based on 22 Jan 2025 · Legacy grading · Open inspection report ↗

Inspection judgements
Area	Judgement
Leadership & management	Good
Early years provision	Good

Previous inspection · 11 Mar 2010Legacy grading · Requires improvement

Previous inspection judgements
Area	Judgement
Overall effectiveness	Requires improvement
Leadership & management	Requires improvement
Early years provision	Inadequate

Ungraded inspection · 22 Jan 2025: Standards maintained

Published 12 May 2015.

Ofsted legacy grades; compare inspection dates and frameworks.

Catchment & distance

Distance unavailable; check admission criteria with the school or council.

Admissions

Application dates · 2027/28 entry
Measure	Value
School’s local authority	Essex
Applications open	September 2026
Application deadline	15 January 2027
National offer day	16 April 2027

Apply through your home council; confirm local dates and any extra school forms.

Admissions demand · 2026/27
Measure	Value
Offers made on National Offer Day	57
First-preference applications	48
Applications (all preferences)	111
First-preference offers	48

Source: Published admissions data; follow each measure’s labelled basis, including all preferences where shown.

School performance

KS2 results · 2024/25
Subject	School (expected)	School (higher)	Average score
Reading, writing & maths	62%	5%	—
Reading	88%	35%	106
Writing	67%	18%	—
Maths	88%	13%	105

DfE · 2024/25; compare the same year and measure (— unavailable or suppressed).

Students and teachers

28.5 pupils per qualified teacher

2025/26 · Full-time equivalent teachers, not class size.

Students

Number of pupilsPeriod not recorded: 413
School capacityPeriod not recorded: 446
Free school meals (FSM)2025/26: 36.8%
English as an additional language (EAL)2025/26: 28.8%
Attendance2024/25: 93.52%
Persistent absence (10% or more of sessions)2024/25: 20.38%

Classes & attendance

Average class size2025/26: 27.5
Suspensions per 100 pupils2024/25: 2.65
Suspensions (count)2024/25: 11
Permanent exclusions per 100 pupils2024/25: 0
Permanent exclusions (count)2024/25: 0

More pupil data

Absence breakdown
Measure	Value
Authorised absence2024/25	4.21%
Unauthorised absence2024/25	2.27%

Ethnic background · 2025/26
Group	Pupils
White British	49.4%
White other	15.5%
Mixed	7.6%
Asian	8%
Black	14%
Other	3.4%

DfE school, census, workforce, absence and exclusion data; periods vary, and missing values are not zero.

Published SEND Data

Autism
Dyslexia
Mental Health
Speech & Language
Hearing
Physical
Other

DfE data; confirm current support with the school's SENCO.

Ofsted Parent View

74% would recommend this school

34 responses · Sep 2024 – Sep 2025

Parent survey responses
Question	Agree or strongly agree
Happy at school	77%
Feels safe	82%
Well behaved pupils	82%
Bullying dealt with	27%

Additional parent survey responses
Question	Agree or strongly agree
Aware of curriculum	88%
Concerns dealt with	50%
SEND support	0%
High expectations	76%
Child does well	85%
Progress updates	79%
Subject range	82%
Clubs & activities	88%
Personal development	73%

FAQ about Freshwaters Primary Academy

Results: The KS2 percentage describes pupils who reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths together. Compare the same reporting year; it is not a prediction for an individual child. Understanding KS2 results.

Inspection: Read the inspection date and full report alongside the headline judgement. Schools inspected under different frameworks cannot be compared using a headline grade alone. Understanding Ofsted inspections.

Admissions: Applications and places describe past demand, not your child’s chance of an offer. Check the entry year and current admission criteria, including any priority groups. School admissions timeline.

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