Located in Harlow, The Downs Primary School and Nursery is a primary school, serving pupils aged 3 to 11. The school is a academy converter and operates as a mixed school. It follows a not applicable admissions policy. It has a none religious character.
The Downs Primary School and Nursery currently has around 402 pupils on roll, which is about 96% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 48% boys and 52% girls. Around 30.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which gives an indication of the socio-economic mix. Pupil backgrounds are varied across different backgrounds and needs.
Overall absence at the school is 5.7%. Persistent absence is recorded at 13.3%.
Pupil backgrounds are varied, with white british pupils forming the largest group at around 36.1%. african pupils make up about 12.2% , followed by indian at 11.9%
Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.
| Address: | The Hides, Harlow, CM20 3RB |
| Website: | www.downsschool.com |
| Telephone: | 01279445538 |
| School Type: | Academy converter |
| Education phase: | Primary |
| Local authority: | Essex |
| Headteacher / Principal: | Headteacher Rob Calderwood |
| Religious character: | None |
| Admissions policy: | Not applicable |
| Unique reference: | 146157 |
Ofsted inspection date: 20/05/2025
Safeguarding is effective
| Age Range: | 3 - 11 |
| Gender: | Mixed |
| School Capacity: | 420 |
| Number of Pupils: | 402 |
| Number of Boys: | 193 |
| Number of Girls: | 209 |
| School | England state-funded schools: | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall absence: | 5.7% | 4% |
| Persistent absence: | 13.3% | 8.2% |
| White British | 36.10% | 145 |
| African | 12.20% | 49 |
| Indian | 11.90% | 48 |
| Other White | 9.50% | 38 |
| Pakistani | 5.20% | 21 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 3.70% | 15 |
| Bangladeshi | 3.70% | 15 |
| Other (any other ethnic group) | 3.50% | 14 |
| Other Mixed | 3.20% | 13 |
| Unclassified | 2.50% | 10 |
| White and Black African | 2.00% | 8 |
| Caribbean | 1.70% | 7 |
| White and Asian | 1.50% | 6 |
| Other Asian | 1.20% | 5 |
| Other Black | 1.20% | 5 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.50% | 2 |
| Chinese | 0.20% | 1 |
| Irish | 0.00% | 0 |
| Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage) | 0.00% | 0 |
Progress scores show how pupils performed compared with pupils nationally who had similar prior attainment. Scores above 0 are better than average; below 0 are worse than average.
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Downs Primary School and Nursery The Hides , CM20 3RB | - not rated | 0 yd | Foundation school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| The Downs Primary School and Nursery The Hides , CM20 3RB | - not rated | 0 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Broadfields Primary School Freshwaters , CM20 3QA | - not rated | 510 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Freshwaters Primary Academy School Lane , CM20 3QA | 3out of 4 | 510 yd | Academy sponsor led | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St Alban's Catholic Primary School First Avenue , CM20 2NP | - not rated | 1,101 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bmat Stem Academy Velizy Avenue , CM20 3EZ | 3out of 4 | 92 yd | University technical college | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Sir Charles Kao Utc Velizy Avenue , CM20 3EZ | - not rated | 179 yd | University technical college | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Mark's West Essex Catholic School Tripton Road , CM18 6AA | - not rated | 657 yd | Voluntary aided school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| St Mark's West Essex Catholic School Tripton Road , CM18 6AA | 3out of 4 | 657 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Burnt Mill Academy First Avenue , CM20 2NR | 3out of 4 | 1,053 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harlow College Velizy Avenue , CM20 3LH | - not rated | 151 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harlow Fields School and College Tendring Road , CM18 6RN | - not rated | 1,213 yd | Community special school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| The Mead School Tendring Road , CM18 6RN | - not rated | 1,328 yd | Community special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Tye Green School Tendring Road , CM18 6RN | - not rated | 1,328 yd | Community special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Childrens Support Centre, Tany's Dell Tanys Dell , Mowbray Road CM20 2LS | - not rated | 1,876 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Harlow Pupil Referral Unit (West Support Centre) Tany's Dell , Mowbhray Road CM20 2LS | - not rated | 1,919 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.