Willow Lane Community Primary School
Lancaster, LA1 5PR · Lancashire · primary school
Check the area around this school
337th of 448 primary schools in Lancashire we can score, 481 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 2.9/10 against 1,884 of them, against 2.8/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. 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 | 46.0 · 14 | 62% | 0.85 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 7.0 · 51 | 38% | 1.95 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Willow Lane Community Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 46.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 7.0% of pupils, matching the national median of 7%. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (2.9 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.8 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Yoga, Chill, LEGO, Ocarina, Latin, Art, and Manga Art Clubs. Sports include Girl’s and Mixed Football, Dodgeball, Korfball, and GLOW Ball Skills. Other activities cover Cooking, Coding, Gardening, and GLOW Dance. Trips go to Tower Wood Outdoor Centre. Both breakfast and after-school clubs are available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 199 pupils against a stated capacity of 210. 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 support is available for those aiming for the higher standard?
What Ofsted said about Willow Lane Community Primary School
Overview
Pupils enjoy attending this school, benefiting from "warm relationships with staff" and a "calm and happy environment." While behaviour, personal development, and leadership are rated Good, the quality of education Requires improvement due to inconsistencies in how pupils build on their learning. The report highlights that while the curriculum is well-designed, variability in teaching and assessment means some pupils have "significant gaps in their knowledge."
Strengths
- Pupils behave well, are respectful, and receive effective support for managing emotions.
- Early years provision is engaging, with a strong focus on developing language skills and "rich two-way conversations."
- Attendance has improved significantly, with successful actions to reduce persistent absence.
- Pupils have broad opportunities for personal development, including clubs, trips, and community involvement.
- Governors provide effective support and challenge, holding the school to account for improvements.
Areas to improve
- Increase emphasis on teaching foundational writing skills, specifically grammar, punctuation, and spelling, to address errors in written communication.
- Refine assessment approaches to consistently identify and rapidly close gaps in pupils’ knowledge across all subjects.
- Ensure learning activities are consistently well-matched to pupils’ next steps so that understanding builds securely over time.
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 | 52% |
| 2023/24 | 43% |
| 2024/25 | 46% |
| 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 LA1 5PR, with results, demand and deadlines — area report →
Have a specific question about admissions, scores or dates?
Ask SchoolsGPT