Harthill Primary School

About Harthill Primary School

Harthill Primary School was rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024, but the detail is more interesting than the headline. The school’s early years provision was judged Outstanding, a clear strength that sets the tone for children’s earliest experience of school. When it comes to the key measure of how well pupils perform at the end of primary school, the data tells a mixed story. In the 2023/24 academic year, 56% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That is slightly below the Rotherham local authority average of 60%, and it places the school 52nd out of 84 primary schools in the borough. In national terms, Harthill sits in the bottom half of all primary schools on this metric. However, individual subject results are more encouraging: 80% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, and 72% did so in maths, with average scores of 106 and 102 respectively.

Digging into the detail, reading stands out as a particular strength. A third of pupils achieved a higher standard in reading, well above the 16% who did so in maths. Writing is the weaker link, with 60% reaching the expected level and no pupils reaching the higher standard. The school’s Ofsted report from 2024 gave Good ratings across the board for quality of education, personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management. The previous inspection in 2014 also rated the school Good overall, so the school has maintained a consistent standard over time. Parents seem broadly satisfied: 86% would recommend the school, and in the Parent View survey, strong majorities agreed that their child is happy at the school and feels safe there. The school’s capacity is 181 pupils, and with 161 on roll, it is not full, though it was oversubscribed for 2025/26 entry, with 43 applications for 20 places.

Harthill Primary is a mixed, non-denominational state school for children aged 5 to 11, located in Rotherham. It offers a decent range of facilities including playing fields, a sports hall, ICT suite, library, art studios, music rooms, and a sensory room. The school also has a chapel. Sports on offer include football, tennis, athletics, dance, rounders and cricket, and there are clubs such as chess, coding, film club, gardening and eco club. The school’s SEND provisions cover specific learning difficulties, speech and language needs, visual impairment, autistic spectrum disorder, and social, emotional and mental health support. In the Parent View survey, 59% of respondents strongly agreed that the school gives SEND children the support they need, though 15% disagreed. This is a school that suits families who value a strong early years start and a broad range of activities, but who are realistic about academic outcomes that sit around the local average.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Harthill Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents