Applications for primary school places in Harrow for September 2025 are now open, with parents having until mid January to apply for their preferred choices. Analysis by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) shows that all but one primary school in the borough is currently rated as either ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ following their most recent Ofsted inspections.
Families with children turning four between September 2024 and August 2025 have until January 15 to apply for a place, where they are required to indicate their top three choices, as well as highlight their preferred school. If parents miss the deadline to apply for a place, their application will not be considered until after the first round of offers are made.
Harrow schools do not have catchment areas as part of their admission arrangements, instead, they use distance as part of their admission arrangements. All schools in Harrow measure distances in a straight line from the home address to the school.
Picking a primary school is an important decision for parents to make about their child’s education. These ages are a pivotal time in their growth and development, and choosing the right school helps provide children with a good start through a solid education.
Fortunately for parents of children in Harrow, of the 40 state schools, 38 are rated as either ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’. Glebe Primary School is the only one to fall short, having achieved a rating of ‘Requires Improvement’ following its latest inspection by Ofsted in October 2023. St.Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School is yet to be inspected since being converted into an academy. See the map below for every state primary school’s Ofsted rating.
However from September this year Ofsted no longer gives state schools one-word judgements, instead giving ratings across a number of key areas. This is following a review in the wake of the death of head teacher Ruth Perry, who took her own life after her primary school in Reading was rated ‘Inadequate’, after being previously rated ‘Outstanding’.
Harrow Council, like all London councils, will send out offers of primary school places on April 16. Parents must accept the offer by the deadline given in the offer letter, otherwise it may be withdrawn and the place given to someone else.
If a child is not offered a place at any of the schools that have been applied for, the council must provide a place at another school. This is usually the applicant’s nearest school that still has places available.
Grant Williams is a journalist and Local Democracy Reporter (LDR) for Reach PLC, reporting on local government, politics and community issues across London. As part of the Local Democracy Reporting Service, he has contributed to Harrow Online, covering council decisions, housing developments, transport, planning matters and stories affecting local communities across Harrow and Brent.
