Classpot

The Willows Primary School

Ipswich, IP2 9ERPrimaryAges 3–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Requires Improvement
Feb 2024
KS2 Results
28%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
17 1st-choice / 17 places
Ranking
#13,359
of 13,686 nationally

About The Willows Primary School

The Willows Primary School in Ipswich sits well below the Suffolk local authority average for Key Stage 2 outcomes, with just 28% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared to the LA average of 58%. This places the school at 210th out of 253 primary schools in the county, firmly in the bottom 50% nationally. The gap is stark across individual subjects too: only 43% met the expected standard in maths (against a typical LA figure around 70%), and while 52% hit the expected level in reading, writing lagged at 39%. Just 4% of pupils achieved the higher standard in reading, writing and maths combined. These figures reflect the significant challenges the school faces, with 55.2% of pupils eligible for free school meals, well above the national average.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range3 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressDowning Close, Ipswich, Ipswich, IP2 9ER
HeadteacherKelly Head
Local AuthoritySuffolk
Number of Pupils306
Free School Meals (FSM)55.2%
School Capacity306 / 420 (73% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

13 Feb 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Requires improvement
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Requires improvement
Early Years Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 25 Apr 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
Outdoor PlaygroundSensory RoomMusic RoomsICT SuiteSports HallLibraryPlaying FieldsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

10

Sports

FootballCross CountryCricketRoundersDanceTennisSwimming

Clubs & Activities

DramaFilm ClubChoir

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingPhysicalLearning Difficulty

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Willows Primary School

The Willows Primary School has been rated "Requires Improvement" by Ofsted. This means the school is not yet good, but inspectors believe it can improve with the right support and changes.