Harwell Primary School

About Harwell Primary School

Harwell Primary School was rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection, with the 2022 ungraded inspection confirming the school remains Good. The single most informative exam metric is the Key Stage 2 combined expected standard in reading, writing and maths, where 77% of pupils met the benchmark. That figure sits well above the Oxfordshire local authority average of 61%, placing Harwell in the top 25% of primary schools nationally. Within the Vale of White Horse district, it ranks 5th out of 47 schools, putting it in the top 11% locally. The school’s average reading score of 107 and maths score of 106 both exceed the national benchmark of 100, while 43% of pupils achieved the higher standard in reading and 23% in maths. These outcomes suggest a school that has not only turned around its performance but is now delivering consistently strong results for its pupils.

Digging deeper into the data, the school’s strengths are particularly evident in maths, where 90% of pupils reached the expected standard, and in reading, where 83% did so. Writing is slightly lower at 80% expected, but still comfortably above the national average. The proportion of pupils achieving the higher standard in reading (43%) is notably strong, while in writing it drops to 13%, which may indicate an area for continued focus. Harwell’s Ofsted inspection noted that early years provision is Good, and leadership and management are also rated Good. The school has held a Good rating across both its graded and ungraded inspections, and the 2022 ungraded inspection confirmed it remains Good. With 208 pupils against a capacity of 210, the school is operating close to full, and 16.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is slightly above the national average.

Harwell is a popular choice for local families, receiving 122 applications for 30 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, with 27 of those going to first-preference applicants. That works out at just over four applications per place, so securing a spot is competitive. The school offers a broad range of facilities including a forest school, sensory room, music rooms, library, gymnasium and sports hall, plus clubs such as coding, science, drama, eco club, gardening and choir. Sports provision includes tennis, gymnastics, athletics, cross country, swimming and cricket. For children with additional needs, the school supports a wide range of SEND categories including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language difficulties, hearing impairment and autistic spectrum disorder. Harwell suits families who want a well-performing village primary with strong academic outcomes, good facilities and a clear commitment to inclusion, all within a short distance of Didcot.

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