Harlestone Primary School

About Harlestone Primary School

Harlestone Primary School is a small state primary in West Northamptonshire, and its headline Key Stage 2 results paint a mixed picture compared with the local authority average. The LA average for pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined is 63%, but at Harlestone, no pupils at all met that benchmark in the 2023/24 academic year. That is a stark gap. However, the school’s average scaled scores tell a slightly different story: pupils averaged 103 in maths and 104 in reading, both of which are above the national baseline of 100. So while the combined measure is low, individual subject scores suggest many children are not far off the expected standard. The school ranks bottom of all 134 primary schools in the LA on this metric, and in the bottom 1% nationally, which will be a key concern for parents weighing up their options.

Ofsted visited in May 2024 and rated the school Good overall, with Good in every category including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and early years provision. This is consistent with its previous Good rating from 2013, so there is stability in leadership under headteacher Sam Phillips. The KS2 results show that 78% of pupils met the expected standard in maths and 78% in reading, but writing was a weak spot, with 0% reaching the expected level. No pupils achieved the higher standard in reading, writing and maths combined, though 11% did so in reading alone. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it is hard to say whether pupils are improving relative to their starting points, but the raw attainment figures suggest the school struggles most with writing outcomes.

Harlestone is a very small school, with 58 pupils against a capacity of 56, and it was oversubscribed for 2025/26 entry, receiving 17 applications for 10 places, all of whom were first-preference offers. The school offers a Forest School, an ICT suite, a gymnasium, music rooms and a library, plus sports including netball, cricket and tennis. Its SEND provisions cover dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social and emotional mental health, and speech and language needs. For families who value a close-knit, rural setting and are comfortable with below-average headline results, Harlestone may still appeal, especially given its Good Ofsted rating and the range of enrichment on offer. But those prioritising strong academic outcomes at KS2 will want to look at higher-ranked schools in the area, such as Helmdon or Greatworth.

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