Willow Bank School

  • Special
  • Local authority maintained
  • Ages 8 to 16
Report card: Needs attention to expected standard

Winwick Road, St Helens, Newton-le-Willows, WA12 8DEOpen in maps

Willow Bank School is a special school in Newton-le-Willows for ages 8 to 16. It is one of the 76 schools in St. Helens. Its latest Ofsted outcome is a report card, from an inspection in May 2026.

Ofsted report card

Inspected 12 May 2026, report published 23 June 2026

Each area is graded from urgent improvement to exceptional, and safeguarding is either met or not met.

Inclusion
Expected standard
Curriculum and teaching
Needs attention
Achievement
Needs attention
Attendance and behaviour
Needs attention
Personal development and wellbeing
Expected standard
Leadership and governance
Expected standard
Safeguarding
Met

Read the full Ofsted report

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

8 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths0%

0%, 62 percentage points below the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths0%

0%, 8 percentage points below the England average of 8%.

Reading, average scaled score90

90, 16 below the England average of 106.

Maths, average scaled score92

92, 13 below the England average of 105.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling, average scaled score89

89, 16 below the England average of 105.

GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25

11 pupils in the year group

Attainment 8 score4.8

4.8, 41.3 below the England average of 46.1.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths0%

0%, 45.4 percentage points below the England average of 45.4%.

Grade 4 or above in English and maths0%

0%, 64.8 percentage points below the England average of 64.8%.

Pupils entering the EBacc0%

0%, 40.5 percentage points below the England average of 40.5%.

EBacc average point score0.32

0.32, 3.77 below the England average of 4.09.

Pupil numbers and mix

70 pupils on roll, with places for 65

Eligible for free school meals70%

70%, 43.5 percentage points above the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language1.4%

1.4%, 20.2 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support0%

0%, 14.8 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan100%

100%, 94 percentage points above the England average of 6%.

Schools near Willow Bank School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Wargrave House School1 mileReport card: Expected standardAttainment 8: 1.4
Lansbury Bridge School2 milesOfsted: Good0% met the expected standard
Mill Green School2 milesOfsted judgements: Good to outstandingNot published
This Is My Education - TIME3 milesOfsted: Requires improvementNot published
Learn 4 Life School3 milesOfsted: GoodAttainment 8: 6.9

School details

School type
Community special school
Sector
Local authority maintained
Age range
8 to 16
Gender
Mixed
Headteacher
Mrs Nicola Laughton
Phone
01744678745
Website
willowbank.st-helens.sch.uk
Address
Winwick Road, St Helens, Newton-le-Willows, WA12 8DE
Local authority
St. Helens
URN
104843

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.