Katherines Primary Academy and Nursery Review 2026: High-attaining Harlow primary with a strong wellbeing framework

A school with a clear point of view about what helps children learn well, steady routines, explicit teaching, and a deliberate focus on emotional regulation. The recent primary outcomes are strong, with 81.67% reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined in 2024, well above the England average of 62%. It also sits comfortably within the top 25% of primary schools in England on outcomes.

Leadership and governance sit within NET Academies Trust, and day-to-day systems have a distinctive flavour, think house points, badges, and practical incentives that children understand quickly. For families considering Reception, demand remains the main pressure point: 51 applications for 26 offers in the most recent normal-round data.

The tone here is purposeful and inclusive. School culture leans on consistent language and systems that children can internalise, with recognition and rewards used to encourage both effort and behaviour. That can suit pupils who like to know what “good” looks like, and it can also be reassuring for families who want school to feel structured.

Pastoral language is woven into day-to-day practice rather than parked in a policy folder. The school’s wider curriculum is framed around GROW (Global Citizen, Resilient Learner, Outstanding Achiever, Well-rounded, Empowered Individual), and it links emotional regulation tools such as Zones of Regulation with the school’s Trauma Perceptive Practice approach. The key point for parents is that wellbeing is treated as part of learning readiness, not as an add-on.

In Year 6, pupils can take on visible responsibility. The Pupil Advocates role is positioned as leadership through service, representing pupil voice and supporting school priorities, including welcoming and guiding visitors. That kind of structured pupil leadership tends to work well for children who enjoy being trusted with real jobs.

Leadership context is worth understanding, because the school uses both Trust-level and on-site titles. The current Head of School is Mrs Jeannette Harman, with safeguarding leadership also named at school level. Trust governance materials list Mr Julien Mealey as Headteacher/Principal, appointed on 1 September 2024. For parents, the practical implication is that some strategic decisions may sit at Trust level, while day-to-day culture is shaped by the on-site team.

Results are a clear strength. In 2024, 81.67% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 62%. Science is also secure, with 86% reaching the expected standard, compared with an England average of 82%.

The higher standard measure is also strong: 27.67% reached the higher standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, versus an England average of 8%. That suggests the school is supporting both breadth and stretch, not only getting pupils over the line.

Ranking context (FindMySchool ranking, based on official data): Ranked 2,460th in England and 3rd in Harlow for primary outcomes, placing it above England average and comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England for outcomes.

Scaled scores in 2024 were 108 in reading, 107 in mathematics, and 108 in grammar, punctuation and spelling. Alongside the high expected-standard rate, this points to consistent teaching rather than a narrow focus on borderline pupils.

Parents comparing local options should use the FindMySchool Local Hub page to view these results side-by-side using the Comparison Tool, especially because “good” schools in the same area can have very different attainment and higher-standard profiles.

Teaching is designed around sequencing and revisiting knowledge over time, so that pupils retain core ideas and vocabulary rather than treating each unit as a one-off. Curriculum planning explicitly foregrounds vocabulary, with high-quality texts used as a backbone for wider learning, which tends to support reading fluency and subject understanding at the same time.

Phonics and early reading are treated as foundations, with extra sessions used to close gaps. A useful nuance for parents of children who are learning English as an additional language is that the school has identified, through external review, a need to ensure staff use additional strategies to build reading fluency for pupils who are new to English and new to the school. That is not unusual in areas with mobility in early years, but it is worth asking what the current practice looks like in small-group reading and language development.

The wider curriculum has a deliberate “life ready” framing, linking academic success, physical development and positive wellbeing. That comes through in named initiatives such as No Outsiders, taught through picture books linked to equality themes, and positioned as part of relationships education and personal development. For families, it signals a school that wants pupils to be confident in difference and able to talk about identity and respect in age-appropriate ways.

Nursery provision

Nursery is integrated into the school and runs as part of the early years phase. Session timings are published, including a morning session and an afternoon session, which can work well for families who need a predictable pattern. Nursery fees are not published here; families should check the school’s official information for up-to-date early years pricing. Government-funded hours are available for eligible families.

Secondary transfer is handled through Essex’s coordinated admissions process, and most families will focus on Harlow-area options. The Essex secondary policies directory lists several local destinations for Year 7 intake, including Passmores Academy, Mark Hall Academy, Sir Frederick Gibberd College, St Mark’s West Essex Catholic School, and Stewards Academy.

The key practical step for Year 6 families is timing. For September 2026 entry, Essex opened secondary applications in mid-September 2025, with a closing date at the end of October 2025. Families applying in future years should expect the same early-autumn pattern and check Essex’s admissions pages each September.

For pupils leaving Year 6, the school’s emphasis on self-regulation, reading development, and structured routines should translate well to larger settings, particularly those with clear behaviour systems and strong pastoral scaffolding in Year 7.

Reception entry is coordinated by Essex County Council during the normal admissions round. For September 2026 entry, Essex opened applications on 10 November 2025 and treated applications after 15 January 2026 as late. Offers for primary places are scheduled for 16 April 2026 for online applicants.

Demand is material. The most recent normal-round data shows 51 Reception applications for 26 offers, with oversubscription in place and roughly 1.96 applications per offer. For parents, that means it is sensible to use all allowed preferences and to plan around your realistic chance of a place, rather than assuming proximity alone will be enough.

Admissions policy detail matters. The school’s published admissions policy for 2026 to 2027 sets a Published Admissions Number of 30 for Reception and confirms that, when oversubscribed, distance is used after looked-after children, siblings, and a limited staff-children criterion. It also states that the academy carries out a home visit prior to starting school, which is a distinctive transition approach and can help some children settle more confidently.

A final point for nursery families: attending the nursery does not automatically secure a Reception place. Reception still requires an application through Essex.

Parents dealing with tight competition should use the FindMySchoolMap Search to check their exact distance from the school gates and keep an eye on how admissions criteria are applied year to year.

Open events tend to follow a seasonal rhythm. The most recent Reception tour listings ran from late September through early November, and booking was required. Exact dates shift each year, so treat this as a pattern rather than a fixed calendar.

Wellbeing is treated as part of the learning engine. Trauma Perceptive Practice (TPP) is described as Essex’s approach to understanding behaviour and supporting emotional wellbeing, with the school stating it began establishing TPP in 2019 and reframed behaviour expectations around relationships and communication. It also references a parent-facing TPP Families Course run over six weeks, designed to align home and school approaches to behaviour support. For parents, this can be valuable if your child benefits from predictable adult responses and shared language about emotions.

No Outsiders adds another strand, sitting within personal development and relationships education, using literature to explore equality themes. If your family values explicit teaching about respect and inclusion, this will likely feel aligned. If you prefer a lighter-touch approach, it is worth asking how lessons are chosen and how parent communication works around sensitive topics.

On safeguarding and safety culture: The latest Ofsted inspection (November 2021) judged the school Good across all areas and confirmed safeguarding arrangements were effective.

Extracurricular life is framed less as a long menu of clubs and more as curated shared experiences and whole-school initiatives. Two named examples stand out from external review: Katherines’ Got Talent and Katherines’ 100 Things, both positioned as part of the wider curriculum and intended to prepare pupils for life beyond school. For children who thrive on performance, challenge lists, or shared milestones, this can add real motivation.

Rewards and recognition are concrete. Pupils can work towards milestones such as pen licences and badge-based recognition, and there is a visible culture of effort being noticed. This often suits pupils who respond well to short feedback loops, especially in key stage 2 where perseverance matters.

Sport and physical development are explicitly part of the school’s curriculum drivers, and the Trust’s PE framing emphasises participation, confidence, and progression through a planned skills sequence from early years upwards. The implication is that sport is treated as part of the educational offer for all pupils, not only those already sporty.

In practical day-to-day terms, breakfast club is more than supervision. The school describes a routine that includes breakfast, games, and access to spaces such as the computing suite and art room. For working families, that can turn an early start into a settled transition rather than a rushed handover.

This is a state school with no tuition fees. Families should still budget for common costs such as uniform, trips, and optional activities.

The core school day is clearly defined: gates open at 8:30am, registration is at 8:45am, and the school day ends at 3:45pm. Total curriculum time is published as 35 hours and 25 minutes per week. Nursery session timings are also published in the school’s parent information pack.

Breakfast club runs from 7:30am to 8:40am. Wraparound beyond the end of the school day is not set out clearly in the same place as the school-day timings, so parents who need after-school provision should ask the school directly what is available and how places are allocated.

• Reception competition. Recent data shows 51 applications for 26 offers, which means planning around a range of outcomes matters, especially if you are new to the area.

• Nursery to Reception is not automatic. Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place, and families still need to apply through Essex during the normal admissions round.

• Early years development focus. The most recent external review identified that nursery curriculum plans were still being developed at the time and that staff clarity about learning intentions in Nursery was a priority for improvement. Parents of younger children should ask what has changed since then, especially around language development and learning progression.

• Behaviour culture is structured. Badges, points, and explicit systems can be brilliant for many children, but a minority may find reward structures less motivating. If your child is sensitive to public recognition, ask how staff ensure the system feels encouraging rather than pressurising.

Katherines Primary Academy and Nursery combines strong outcomes with an unusually explicit wellbeing and inclusion framework, anchored in GROW, Trauma Perceptive Practice, and a literature-led approach to equality education. It suits families who want clear routines, ambitious learning goals, and a school that teaches emotional regulation as part of daily life.

Who it suits: pupils who respond well to structure, thrive on clear expectations, and benefit from adults sharing a consistent approach to behaviour and wellbeing. The main obstacle is admission, so families should plan early, use all preferences, and take a realistic view of local competition.