Willow Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 21 April 2026

Pupils at Willow Primary School enjoy being part of a welcoming, inclusive community where they feel known, valued and cared for. The school's strong links with the local community and its clear commitment to being a 'school without walls' help pupils develop a genuine sense of belonging. Pupils celebrate difference, show respect for one another and are encouraged to be confident and aspirational. Pupils behave very well. They are polite, articulate and welcoming to visitors. They consistently treat adults and their peers with kindness and respect. Clear routines and high expectations help pupils feel secure and ready to learn from the early years onwards. Pupils move sensibly around the school and show positive attitudes to learning. They say that they feel safe and bullying is rare. Pupils are confident that any concerns are dealt with quickly and effectively. Pupils enjoy their learning and are supported well to achieve. They typically make positive progress from their starting points. Staff work closely together to reduce barriers to learning and wellbeing effectively. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities access the same learning as their peers. Appropriate adaptations are carefully considered to help them succeed. High expectations across the school contribute to pupils' achievements. Ongoing work to strengthen the wider curriculum will enhance this further. Pupils typically attend regularly, and absence rates are improving. Well-established routines for learning and behaviour begin in the early years and continue throughout the school. Beyond lessons, pupils benefit from a growing range of enrichment opportunities, including music, photography and sport. Many pupils take on leadership roles, developing confidence and independence. Trips and community events further enrich pupils' experiences. As a result, pupils are well prepared for the next steps in their education and for life in modern Britain.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that their work to support families and pupils leads to further reductions in rates of persistent absence for all pupils.
• Leaders should ensure lesson activities enable all pupils to build securely on prior learning and produce consistently high-quality work across the wider curriculum.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)