Harworth CofE Academy Review 2026: High-attaining village primary with a clear values spine

A small primary with a strong sense of identity, Harworth CofE Academy combines the feel of a traditional village school with outcomes that are well above typical England benchmarks. The school describes itself as founded in 1702, and notes that the building was formerly a knitwear factory, a detail that speaks to its long-standing local roots.

Leadership is shared between Ms K L Clowes and Mrs E Doyle as co-headteachers, with Mrs Doyle also named as the Designated Safeguarding Lead and Senior Mental Health Lead. The most recent inspection cycle confirms that the school remains Good, with the latest inspection dates in March 2023.

For parents, the headline is the combination of high Key Stage 2 outcomes, a Planned Admission Number of 30, and an admissions picture that indicates sustained demand.

This is a Church of England primary that puts its values to work in day-to-day routines. The school’s leadership sets out a simple ambition framework, centred on its “3As” approach (Amaze, Achieve, Aspire), and pupils are explicitly taught that effort and aspiration matter.

Behaviour and relationships are positioned as a strength. Pupils are expected to understand and follow the school’s “ruby red rules”, and the culture is reinforced through practical recognition, including badges linked to small acts of kindness. The tone here is not about perfection, it is about consistency, clear boundaries, and pupils feeling confident that adults will help when learning feels hard.

A notable part of the wider life is pupil responsibility. The inspection evidence highlights structured roles such as eco-warriors, diversity officers, charity officers, and a pupil parliament, alongside a “courageous advocacy” strand that is presented as giving pupils routes to speak up, including for others whose views are less likely to be heard.

The school also describes practical, physical features that support daily life, including six classrooms, an early years unit, a library, and a purpose-built hall, plus a playground with interactive markings and a trim trail.

The published outcomes place Harworth CofE Academy firmly above typical England levels at Key Stage 2.

Ranked 2,138th in England and 6th in Doncaster for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), the school sits above England average and comfortably within the top 25% of primary schools in England by this measure.

At Key Stage 2, 95.67% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 24% reached the higher threshold in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 8%.

Scaled scores add helpful context. The school’s averages are 108 in reading and 106 in maths, and grammar, punctuation and spelling is 109. These are strong figures, and they align with a wider pattern in the data that suggests pupils are not only meeting the expected bar, but a meaningful proportion are pushing beyond it.

What this can mean in practice is twofold. First, pupils are likely to experience a curriculum that assumes they can handle challenge and structured practice. Second, parents of high-attaining pupils should expect the school to take extension seriously rather than treating it as optional “extra”.

Curriculum ambition is a consistent thread. Leaders are described as having designed an ambitious curriculum for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities, with staff adapting lessons so pupils with SEND can access the same content wherever possible.

Mathematics teaching includes a deliberately structured element described as an “it’s nothing new” session. The idea is straightforward: pupils revisit prior learning before moving on, and teachers use this time, along with assessment, to identify gaps early and respond quickly.

Computing is given real substance rather than being treated as a light-touch add-on. One specific example referenced in the inspection is a Year 6 project that involved editing audio clips (tone, reverb, volume) with commentary to create a propaganda play set in World War Two, which indicates a blend of technical skills and curriculum knowledge.

Reading is treated as a priority area. The inspection evidence points to pupils enjoying reading, inviting reading spaces around school, and staff selecting books that deliberately widen vocabulary and connect to wider curriculum themes and ethical discussions.

One current development to be aware of is early reading delivery. Leaders introduced a new phonics approach, with staff training, but the improvement focus is on consistent delivery accuracy and ensuring that home reading books are closely matched to pupils’ phonic knowledge.

As a primary school, the key transition is into Year 7. For families planning ahead, it is useful to know that Nottinghamshire’s published secondary information for 2026 to 2027 lists Harworth CofE Academy as a linked primary school for Serlby Park Academy and The Elizabethan Academy.

Transition support is particularly important for pupils with additional needs. The school’s SEND documentation describes a structured transition package for children with additional needs, involving relevant staff from the receiving secondary school and, where appropriate, outside agencies, with earlier preparation when needs are complex.

For parents, the practical implication is that Year 6 is not treated as a cliff-edge. Planning and information-sharing with the next setting is framed as part of the support offer, especially where pupils benefit from continuity and predictable change.

The school’s Planned Admission Number is 30, and the admissions picture in the published figures indicate pressure on places. In the most recent demand snapshot provided, there were 65 applications for 30 offers, which equates to 2.17 applications per place, and the route is listed as oversubscribed. First preference demand also sits above supply, with a 1.14 ratio of first preferences to first preference offers.

For September 2026 Reception entry (and infant to junior transfers where relevant), Nottinghamshire County Council publishes clear coordinated dates: applications open 3 November 2025, close 15 January 2026, and offers are issued on 16 April 2026.

Because this is a Church of England academy within the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham Multi-Academy Trust, the determined admissions arrangements also reference a Supplementary Information Form for families who want church commitment to be taken into account in the oversubscription process. The admissions arrangements define practising church attendance as at least monthly attendance over the year prior to application, and they stress the need to apply by the coordinated deadline.

Parents trying to judge their chances should use the FindMySchool Map Search to check exact proximity, and to sanity-check whether you are realistically competing on distance, faith criteria, or a combination, depending on how oversubscription plays out in a given year.

Safeguarding is a clear strength. The latest inspection confirms that safeguarding arrangements are effective, and describes a culture of staff vigilance, prompt reporting, strong record-keeping, and timely referrals to external agencies when needed.

Day-to-day wellbeing is supported through routines and roles. The co-headteacher structure includes a named safeguarding lead and senior mental health lead, and staff roles list deputy safeguarding leads alongside phase responsibilities, which usually supports continuity when key staff are absent.

For children, the combination of clear behaviour expectations and adults who are positioned as helpful when learning is hard matters. It tends to reduce the fear of getting things wrong, which is important in a school where challenge is part of the learning model.

Extracurricular provision is specific rather than generic, and it is clearly pitched by age.

After-school clubs listed include Guitar Club (Year 5), Just Dance Club (Foundation Stage and Year 1), Choir (Years 2 to 4), Chess Club (Years 3 and 4), Coding Club (Years 5 and 6), and a Biodiversity Club (Years 4 and 6). These are the kinds of clubs that connect to both arts and STEM, and they also hint at a school willing to give pupils leadership and responsibility early, especially through eco and biodiversity strands.

The school also describes curriculum-linked experiences, including termly educational visits, with one example being a Year 6 visit to the National Coal Mining Museum as part of a topic sequence that includes the Industrial Revolution. This kind of trip is not just a day out, it is a way of making abstract history tangible for pupils who may not otherwise connect it to lived experience.

Faith and global citizenship appear in practical partnerships too. The school describes a link with The King’s Village school in Northern Ghana, including sponsorship and fundraising that support a named child’s education. For many families, this reads as values education with real-world follow-through.

The school publishes a detailed “typical day” structure, including arrival from 8.30am, collective worship, structured lesson sessions, and a 3.15pm end to the core day.

Wraparound care is in place. Breakfast club runs 7.30am to 8.30am, and after-school club runs 3.15pm to 6.00pm, delivered via Premier Education, with food options and a light tea referenced as part of the offer.

There is no nursery provision listed for the school. For families needing early years childcare before Reception, you will need to plan around external providers.

• Small intake, real competition. With a Planned Admission Number of 30 and an oversubscribed profile in the available demand snapshot, the limiting factor is often securing a place rather than deciding whether the school is a good fit academically.

• Early reading is a live development area. The phonics approach has been updated, and the focus is on consistent delivery and matching home reading books closely to pupils’ phonic knowledge, so parents of early readers may want to ask how this is currently monitored and supported.

• Faith criteria can matter in oversubscription. This is a Church of England academy, and families who want church commitment considered should expect additional paperwork and clear expectations around evidence.

• A small school can feel close-knit. For many pupils this is reassuring and stabilising. For some, particularly those who prefer a wider peer group early on, it is worth thinking about how your child handles small cohorts.

Harworth CofE Academy offers a compelling combination for local families: strong Key Stage 2 outcomes, clear routines, and a values-led culture that is backed by practical pupil leadership roles and a consistent approach to behaviour. It suits families who want a small primary with high expectations and clear boundaries, and who are comfortable with a Church of England character in the life of the school. The main challenge is admission, not the education that follows.