William Harding School

About William Harding School

William Harding School is a large state primary in Buckinghamshire, currently educating 808 pupils against a capacity of 870, so it is running close to full. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 17.2%, which is above the national average for primary schools and suggests a more diverse socioeconomic intake than many of its local counterparts. Demand for places is strong: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 180 applications for 98 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.84. Of those applications, 78 were first-preference choices, and exactly 78 first-preference offers were made, meaning every family that put it top got in. This is a school that clearly appeals to local parents, but it is not yet at the point where a first-preference application guarantees nothing — though with numbers like these, that could change.

Academically, William Harding performs solidly but not spectacularly within Buckinghamshire. At Key Stage 2, 65% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is just above the local authority average of 64%. The school ranks 71st out of 137 primary schools in the county, placing it in the middle of the pack. In individual subjects, reading and maths both produced an average scaled score of 106, while 34% of pupils achieved a higher standard in each. Writing lags behind, with only 7% reaching the higher threshold. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it is hard to say how much value the school adds relative to starting points. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, the school was rated Good across all categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and early years provision — a consistent improvement from its previous Good rating in 2016, which had seen a slightly weaker early years grade.

The school offers a broad range of facilities, including a sports hall, playing fields, an ICT suite, music rooms, art studios, and a forest school area. Clubs cover art, book club, drama, choir and gardening, while sports on offer include athletics, tennis, football and dance. SEND provision is extensive, with support for specific learning difficulties, speech and language needs, hearing and visual impairments, autistic spectrum disorder, and a resourced provision — a real strength for families whose children need additional help. The school is not a nursery or boarding school, and has no sixth form. For parents looking for a large, well-subscribed community primary with strong SEND support and decent but not elite results, William Harding is a practical choice. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Turnfurlong Junior School, 0.9 km away, which may be worth a look for those prioritising top Ofsted grades.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About William Harding School

Helpful Guides for Parents