Willowfield School
London, E17 6ND · Waltham Forest · secondary school
Check the area around this school
14th of 17 secondary schools in Waltham Forest we can score. 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 — 5.9/10 against 676 of them, against 4.4/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 16 | 35% | 0.55 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 42.0 · 42 | 30% | 1.27 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.02 · 49 | 25% | 1.22 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 43.5 · 36 | 10% | 0.36 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Willowfield School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 54.9% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 46.1, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.02 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did slightly worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (7.8 out of 10 against similar schools, 6.1 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in January 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join netball and football teams.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,035 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,050. 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 to improve their Progress 8 scores? What specific support is available for students aiming to raise their Attainment 8?
What Ofsted said about Willowfield School
Overview
Willowfield School delivers an education that meets the expected standard across all inspected areas. The report highlights a "calm, friendly and purposeful" environment where pupils make steady progress and disadvantaged students often outperform national averages. While safeguarding standards are met and leadership is effective, the report identifies specific inconsistencies in teaching quality and attendance that require attention.
Strengths
- Pupils achieve GCSE results consistently at least in line with national averages, with disadvantaged pupils often performing better than similar peers nationally.
- Staff apply behaviour routines consistently, creating a culture where bullying is not tolerated and learning is rarely disrupted.
- Leaders provide effective support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, ensuring they learn at least as well as their peers.
- The personal development programme is "well structured" and helps pupils engage confidently with themes such as equality and ethical dilemmas.
- Governors and leaders work collaboratively to drive improvement, with staff reporting that leaders act considerately and support their wellbeing.
Areas to improve
- Leaders should ensure all teachers maintain high expectations so pupils can "articulate their learning confidently" and produce work of a consistently high standard across all subjects.
- The uptake of beneficial optional clubs is not as high as it could be, particularly for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an open culture where concerns are actively identified, acted upon, and managed to ensure pupils feel safe.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 48.1 |
| 2024/25 | 46.1 |
| 2025/26 | 43.5 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 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
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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