School profile

The Willows Primary School

Primary · Academy converter · Ipswich, IP2 9ER

Requires improvement

Map showing The Willows Primary School

Schools
Numbers on map: pupil ages
Outstanding
Good
Requires improvement
Inadequate
Not rated

National ranking

Key stage 2 2024/25

#14,316 of 15,057

Worse than 95% of schools in England

Ranked by pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

The Willows Primary School Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 13 Feb 2024

Ofsted rating
Requires improvement
Quality of education
Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes
Requires improvement
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Requires improvement
Early years
Good
Safeguarding
Effective

School facts

PhasePrimary
TypeAcademy converter
Ages4 to 11
Pupils259
GenderMixed
Head teacherMrs Kelly Head
TrustORWELL MULTI ACADEMY TRUST
Local authoritySuffolk
Opened01 Apr 2017
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 144216.

Key stage 2 results

2024/25

Year 6 results in national curriculum tests and teacher assessments. The expected standard is the level pupils should reach by the end of primary school.

MeasureThis schoolSuffolkEngland
Expected standard in reading, writing and maths35%, worse than England, worse than Suffolk59%63%
Higher standard in reading, writing and mathsScore of 110 or more in reading and maths, greater depth in writing.6%, similar to England, similar to Suffolk7%8%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 meets the expected standard.100, worse than England, worse than Suffolk105106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 meets the expected standard.100, worse than England, worse than Suffolk104105
Average grammar, punctuation and spelling scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 meets the expected standard.99, worse than England, worse than Suffolk104105
Expected standard in reading54%, worse than England, worse than Suffolk73%76%
Expected standard in writing50%, worse than England, worse than Suffolk70%73%
Expected standard in maths50%, worse than England, worse than Suffolk71%75%
Pupils taking tests54--

Source: DfE, Compare school performance, Compare school performance 2024-2025.

Pupils

2025/26

Pupils at the January school census.

MeasureThis school
Total pupils259
Girls139
Boys120
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.60.6%
First language not English23.2%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.420
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.38.3%
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.48
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.26
Average class size22.2

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Pupils ethnicity

2025/26

Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.

Pupils ethnicity

White British
61.8%
Other mixed
7.7%
Other White
6.6%
African
4.6%
Other ethnic group
4.6%
White and Black African
3.5%
White and Black Caribbean
3.1%
Other Black
2.7%
White and Asian
1.2%
Caribbean
1.2%

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Teachers and staff

2025/26

Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.

MeasureThis school
Pupils per teacher15.7
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.7.6
Teachers (FTE)16.55
Teaching assistants (FTE)16.71
Support staff (FTE)21.16
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2512.9
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2511
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/251.8
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/250

Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.

Admissions

2026/27

Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.

MeasureThis school
Offers made (Reception)Places offered on national offer day.20
Applications (Reception)Includes every preference parents listed.35
First preference applications (Reception)Families who put this school as their first choice.19
First preference offers (Reception)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.19
Applications from another local authority (Reception)0

Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.

Attendance

2025/26

Share of possible sessions missed.

MeasureThis schoolSuffolkEngland
Overall absence7.2%, worse than England, worse than Suffolk5.1%5.1%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.23.8%, worse than England, worse than Suffolk12.6%13.2%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.3.5%, worse than England, worse than Suffolk1.2%1%

Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

Suspensions and exclusions

2024/25

Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.

MeasureThis school
Suspension rate11.4%
Pupils with one or more suspensions4.9%
Permanent exclusion rate0.7%
Permanent exclusions2

Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.

Nearby schools

Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.

Schools near The Willows Primary School
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.2 miNot applicableSt Joseph's CollegeOther independent school
Unrated
0.3 miSecondaryChantry AcademyAcademy sponsor led
Good
0.4 miPrimarySt Mark's Catholic Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.5 miPrimaryHalifax Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.6 miPrimaryGusford Community Primary SchoolAcademy sponsor led
Good
0.6 miPrimaryThe Oaks Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Outstanding
0.8 miSecondaryStoke High School - Ormiston AcademyAcademy sponsor led
Requires improvement
0.9 miPrimarySprites Primary AcademyAcademy sponsor led
Good
0.9 miPrimaryHillside Primary SchoolAcademy sponsor led
Requires improvement
1.0 miPrimaryRanelagh Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good

Frequently asked questions about The Willows Primary School

What is The Willows Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The Willows Primary School is rated Requires improvement by Ofsted, last inspected on 13 Feb 2024.

How does The Willows Primary School rank in England?

The Willows Primary School ranks 14,316 of 15,057 schools in England for Key stage 2 2024/25 (worse than 95% of schools).

What are The Willows Primary School's SATs results?

In 2024/25, 35% of pupils at The Willows Primary School met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (England 63%).

How hard is it to get into The Willows Primary School?

For Reception entry in 2026/27, The Willows Primary School made 20 offers from 35 applications (1.8 per offer), and 19 of 19 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend The Willows Primary School?

The Willows Primary School has 259 pupils aged 4 to 11.

What is the capacity of The Willows Primary School?

The Willows Primary School had 420 school places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at The Willows Primary School?

At The Willows Primary School, the average class had 22.2 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 15.7 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at The Willows Primary School?

In 2025/26, pupils at The Willows Primary School missed 7.2% of sessions (England 5.1%), and 23.8% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 13.2%).

Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.