Longwood Primary Academy

About Longwood Primary Academy

Longwood Primary Academy is a school that parents clearly want to get into. For the 2025/26 intake, it received 93 applications for just 54 places, an oversubscription ratio of 1.72, with all 48 first-preference families offered a spot. That kind of demand suggests a strong local reputation. The school is led by headteacher Monica Holland and is a state primary for mixed-gender pupils aged 3 to 11, with nursery provision on site. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 confirmed it remains a Good school, a significant turnaround from its previous Inadequate rating in 2013. The inspection report highlighted Outstanding leadership and management, and Good early years provision. With 425 pupils on roll against a capacity of 420, the school is effectively full, and 38.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, reflecting a diverse intake.

Academically, Longwood performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 76% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared to the Essex local authority average of 62%. That places the school 5th out of 28 primary schools in Harlow, putting it in the top 25% nationally. Scores in reading and maths both averaged 105, comfortably above the national benchmark of 100. At the higher standard, 27% achieved in reading and 24% in maths, though writing and the combined measure were lower at 9% and 7% respectively. Progress scores are not available in the data, but the attainment figures alone show a school that is delivering solid results for its pupils, particularly given the high proportion of disadvantaged children.

The school offers a broad set of facilities including a library, sports hall, playing fields, ICT suite, forest school and music rooms. Sports on offer include gymnastics, cricket, netball, dance and rounders, while clubs range from gardening and book club to coding and eco club. For children with additional needs, the school lists provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, and visual impairment. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Hare Street Community Primary School and Nursery, 2.1 km away, which may be worth a look for families who want a backup option. Longwood suits families who value a well-led, oversubscribed community school with strong academic outcomes and a wide range of enrichment activities, all within a single-form entry setting.

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