Willow Bank School

Overview

Willow Bank School has successfully addressed a previous decline in education quality, with leaders and governors now playing a stronger oversight role. The report describes the school as meeting the "expected standard" in inclusion, leadership, and personal development, while noting that achievement, attendance, behaviour, and curriculum teaching require further attention to ensure consistency and secure learning.

Strengths

• Inclusion is effective, with staff using "clear, well-organised systems" to identify needs and provide timely support for social, emotional, and mental health.
• Personal development is well-structured, offering a "broad and varied enrichment programme" including visits from professionals and opportunities for community contribution.
• Leaders and governors have established effective systems to monitor pupil progress and challenge improvements, particularly regarding attendance.
• Staff workload and wellbeing are taken seriously, with staff feeling "supported well by leaders" and parents reporting positive involvement.
• Safeguarding standards are met, creating an "open culture" where concerns are actively identified and managed.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must strengthen their approach to managing "unkind behaviour" and ensure pupils consistently understand expectations.
• Teachers need to routinely and accurately check pupils' knowledge during lessons to address misconceptions and adapt teaching effectively.
• Pupils require better support to develop secure skills in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and handwriting to communicate ideas clearly.

Safeguarding

The report states that "safeguarding standards are met," noting that leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer and feel safe.