Classpot

Water Lane Primary Academy

Harlow, CM19 5RDPrimaryAges 4–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
May 2023
KS2 Results
27%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
24 1st-choice / 27 places
Ranking
#13,381
of 13,686 nationally

About Water Lane Primary Academy

Water Lane Primary Academy in Harlow is a school that local families clearly want to get into. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 42 applications for just 27 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.56, and all 24 first-preference applicants were offered a spot. That kind of demand suggests parents who get to know the school are keen to secure a place. The school is a state primary for mixed genders aged 4 to 11, with 184 pupils on roll against a capacity of 210, so there is some room but not much. Headteacher Amy Rawlinson leads a school that has held a Good rating from Ofsted across its most recent inspections, including an ungraded visit in 2023 that confirmed it remains Good. The school also has a Forest School, sensory room, and a range of clubs from Book Club to Coding, which may add to its appeal for families looking for a well-supported primary experience.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range4 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressBroadley Road, Harlow, Harlow, CM19 5RD
HeadteacherAmy Rawlinson
Local AuthorityEssex
Number of Pupils184
Free School Meals (FSM)31.5%
School Capacity184 / 210 (88% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

11 May 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Good

Latest monitoring visit (11 May 2023): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 12 Jul 2017. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

9
Forest SchoolPlaying FieldsGymnasiumMusic RoomsDining HallSensory RoomLibraryArt StudiosChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

12

Sports

AthleticsFootballNetballTennisCross CountrySwimming

Clubs & Activities

Book ClubFilm ClubGardeningChessEco ClubCoding

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageVisionLearning Difficulty

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:45 – 15:15

Breakfast club

07:50-08:45

Source: waterlaneprimary.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Water Lane Primary Academy

Water Lane Primary Academy has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.