The Willows Primary School
About The Willows Primary School
The Willows Primary School in Manchester is a state primary for mixed pupils aged 3 to 11, and it is currently running slightly over its official capacity of 423 with 429 pupils on roll. This oversubscription is a clear signal of local demand: for the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 111 applications for just 46 places, with every one of those places going to first-preference families. The oversubscription ratio of 2.41 means nearly two and a half families compete for each spot. The school serves a community with a high level of disadvantage — 57.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. This context matters when interpreting the school’s academic results, as it suggests the staff are working with a cohort that faces significant socioeconomic barriers.
Key Details
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 EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
21 Jun 2022Source: Ofsted, 21 Sept 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
11Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
School day
Teaching hours
08:50 – 15:20
Breakfast club
08:00-08:45
Source: willows.manchester.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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