Hartwell Primary School

About Hartwell Primary School

Hartwell Primary School, a Church of England state primary in West Northamptonshire, holds a Good rating from its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, with every inspected category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision — all rated Good. The academic story, however, is best told by the school’s Key Stage 2 results for the 2023/24 year. A striking 92% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths combined, a figure that sits 29 percentage points above the local authority average of 63%. This performance places Hartwell sixth out of 134 primary schools in West Northamptonshire, inside the top five per cent nationally, and gives it a ranking score of 92. The school is just behind the very top performers in the area, Helmdon and Greatworth, which both scored 100.

Drilling into the KS2 breakdown, the school’s strength is particularly clear in maths, where 96% of pupils reached the expected level and 67% achieved a higher standard, with an average scaled score of 112. Reading also performed strongly, with 92% at the expected level and 46% reaching the higher standard, alongside an average score of 111. Writing saw 92% at the expected level and 29% at the higher standard. The previous Ofsted inspection in 2008 rated the school Outstanding overall, so the current Good judgement represents a shift, but the consistent Good ratings across all categories in 2022 suggest a stable and reliable performance. With only 188 pupils on roll, the school appears to deliver focused, effective teaching in the core subjects, particularly maths.

Hartwell is a popular choice, oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake with 51 applications for 30 places, and 29 of those 30 first-preference offers went to families who put it top of their list. The school serves a relatively affluent intake, with only 6.4% of pupils eligible for free school meals, and its facilities include a gymnasium, art studios, music rooms, a library, a chapel, and playing fields. Sports provision covers rounders, netball, cricket, swimming, and athletics, while clubs range from book club and science club to gardening, eco club, drama, and choir. For families with children who have additional needs, the school offers support for speech, language and communication, hearing impairment, multi-sensory impairment, and autistic spectrum disorder. This is a strong academic performer in a village church school setting, suited to families who prioritise high exam results and a broad extracurricular offer.

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