A NEW school for Harlow will open by September 2026, according to Essex County Council reports the Local Democracy Reporter.

Harlowbury Primary School – a single-form primary school with 210 students in Old Harlow- is due to be relocated to Gilden Way and expanded to accommodate 420 children.

A further 56 early years places will be created for pre-schoolers.

The council says Harlowbury Primary School cannot be expanded further due to the constraints of its current site, despite the increasing demand for places from new housing being built at Gilden Way.

The council has said that relocating the school to a new site in Gilden Way would create a fit-for-purpose building that could also manage the need for more school places locally.

Planning approval has been granted for the new school, but the planning application for the early years plan is still pending.

Essex County Council cabinet member for education, councillor Tony Ball, said at a cabinet meeting on June 26: “We’re all aware of the growing demand for school places currently within Essex, and we have a duty to provide access to a school place for every child wanting one.

“There is currently a one-form entry school in Harlow. This proposes and puts a timeline on relocating that and increasing the number of pupils to 210 to 420 to accommodate the development there. Plus a 56-place early years and childcare provision.

“This responds to the need. Harlow is an area of focus for us particularly within our leveling up policy.”

The council adds that the relocation and expansion of Harlowbury Primary School raises its profile with local parents and allows it to better ‘compete’ with nearby Newhall Primary Academy, both in terms of pupils and staff recruitment.