The Willows Primary School
Ipswich, IP2 9ER · Suffolk · primary school
Check the area around this school
221st of 232 primary schools in Suffolk we can score, 253 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 2.8/10 against 611 of them, against 2.0/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 35.0 · 5 | 40% | 0.20 |
| Ofsted | 3 | 35% | 0.10 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 6.0 · 45 | 25% | 1.12 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The Willows Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 35.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 6.0% of pupils, against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school "Requires improvement" in April 2024. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (2.8 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.0 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 259 pupils against a stated capacity of 390. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils who are below the expected standard in maths? What specific actions are being taken to address the "Requires improvement" rating from the 2024 inspection?
What Ofsted said about The Willows Primary School
Overview
The Willows Primary School requires improvement in overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management. However, it is good in personal development and early years provision.
Strengths
- Pupils learn a broad curriculum, with recent changes organised to build knowledge and understanding over time.
- Staff use stories and non-fiction texts to enhance the curriculum and deepen pupils' understanding.
- Teachers in some subjects plan activities that build effectively on what pupils have learned before, and lessons are well resourced and engaging.
- The early years curriculum is well matched to children's abilities, and staff consider what children already know and can do.
- Pupils have positive relationships with staff, who know them and their families well.
- Pupils learn how to keep safe, including through visits from the police and charities.
- The school supports pupils' wider development well, with a range of enriching opportunities and leadership opportunities available.
Areas to improve
- In some subjects, the curriculum is not implemented effectively to meet pupils' needs, and teachers do not always make necessary adjustments to help pupils, particularly those with SEND, learn the curriculum effectively.
- In some subjects, teachers do not use assessment effectively to check that pupils understand and remember what they have learned previously, and do not use assessment information to plan activities and sequences of lessons that build effectively on pupils' prior knowledge.
- There is a core group of pupils who are not yet meeting the school's new expectations of behaviour, and the school should continue to develop its work and strategies to support pupils to meet expectations of behaviour.
- Some pupils are absent from school frequently, missing out on learning and not achieving as well as they should.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 20% |
| 2023/24 | 28% |
| 2024/25 | 35% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
Saved schools live on this device only — no account, no tracking. Visit the school's website
Loading full school details…
Similar schools nearby
Same area, prioritising the same phase — useful for shortlisting alternatives.
Every school within 2.5 miles of IP2 9ER, with results, demand and deadlines — area report →
Have a specific question about admissions, scores or dates?
Ask SchoolsGPT