Pemberley Academy

About Pemberley Academy

Pemberley Academy is a state primary school in Harlow, Essex, that sits comfortably among the top performers in the local authority. In the most recent ranking of primary schools by the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, it placed 2nd out of 28 schools in Harlow, putting it in the top 10% locally. That performance also earned it a national percentile of 6, meaning it outperforms the vast majority of primaries across England. Among its top peers in Essex are St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School in Colchester and Stambridge Primary School, both of which achieved the maximum ranking score of 100. The school is led by headteacher Lisa Fish and has a capacity of 210 pupils, with 208 currently on roll. It is a mixed, non-religious school for children aged 4 to 11, and does not offer nursery provision or a sixth form.

Academically, Pemberley Academy delivers strong results that comfortably exceed the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 84% of pupils achieved the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared with the Essex average of 62%. The school also saw 16% of pupils reach the higher standard in all three subjects. Reading scores were particularly strong, with an average scaled score of 107 and 45% of pupils achieving the higher standard. In maths, the average scaled score was 106, with 29% reaching the higher level. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in January 2024, confirmed it remains Good and noted it is improving. The previous graded inspection in 2018 also rated the school Good overall, with Good marks for leadership and management, early years provision, and the quality of education.

The school is clearly popular with local families: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 98 applications for just 30 places, an oversubscription ratio of 3.27 to one. Of the 28 first-preference applications, 27 were offered a place. Facilities include music rooms, an ICT suite, a forest school, art studios, a gymnasium and a chapel. Sports on offer range from athletics and cross country to netball and tennis, while clubs include choir, drama and film club. The school provides support for pupils with moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. For families seeking an alternative, the nearest Outstanding-rated primary is Hare Street Community Primary School and Nursery, just one kilometre away. Pemberley Academy is a strong fit for families who value solid academic outcomes and a broad range of activities within a relatively small, oversubscribed school.

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