Willowcroft Community School
Mereland Road, Didcot, OX11 8BAOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Willowcroft Community School is a primary school in Didcot for ages 2 to 11. It is one of the 359 schools in Oxfordshire. It ranks 6th of 12 primary schools in Didcot. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in March 2015.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 24 March 2015, report published 27 April 2015
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 5 March 2024
Pupils are rightly proud of their happy and nurturing school. They demonstrate positive attitudes towards their learning and others. Relationships between staff and pupils are warm and respectful. Staff have high expectations for all pupils to succeed academically, emotionally and socially. Pupils rise to these and achieve well. The school's values of 'resilience, reflectiveness, resourcefulness and reciprocity' are firmly rooted in daily routines. In lessons, pupils are enthusiastic learners and contribute thoughtfully to discussions. They enjoy taking up a wide range of leadership roles. Pupils value these responsibilities and feel that they are making an impact by helping others. For example, the eco-leaders have planted trees, the playground buddies set up activities and the reading ambassadors help younger pupils. The school provides a wide range of opportunities for pupils to develop their interests. Pupils look forward to the gardening, sewing, dancing and sports clubs. They learn to play musical instruments and perform at local music and dance festivals. Pupils collect funds and donations for charities they support. They are proud of their campaign to raise awareness about the impact of pollution on the environment. Pupils regularly organise litter picks to keep the area safe for local habitats.
What the school should improve
- Teaching in a few subjects is inconsistent. As a result, some pupils do not learn as well as they could. The school should equip staff with the skills to check pupils' understanding and help pupils to make links with what they have learned previously so they integrate new knowledge into larger ideas.
- Sometimes, the teaching of phonics is variable. Some staff do not identify and address gaps in pupils' phonics knowledge effectively. This means that some of the younger pupils do not learn to read with sufficient fluency and confidence. The school should continue to ensure that all staff are well trained and teach phonics successfully.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
61 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
481 pupils on roll, with places for 482
Schools near Willowcroft Community School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northbourne Church of England Primary School | 0.4 miles | Ofsted: Good | 56% met the expected standard |
| Manor Primary School | 0.6 miles | Ofsted: Good | 53% met the expected standard |
| All Saints Church of England Primary School | 0.7 miles | Ofsted: Good | 75% met the expected standard |
| Hagbourne Church of England Primary School | 0.8 miles | Ofsted: Good | 73% met the expected standard |
| Ladygrove Park Primary School | 0.9 miles | Ofsted: Good | 70% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- WILLOWCROFT ACADEMY TRUST
- Age range
- 2 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Miss Amanda Doy
- Phone
- 01235813304
- Address
- Mereland Road, Didcot, OX11 8BA
- Local authority
- Oxfordshire
- URN
- 139770
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.