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The Willows Primary School

West Berkshire, RG14 7SJPrimaryAges 2–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Apr 2026
KS2 Results
63%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
0.7×
Not oversubscribed
20 1st-choice / 30 places
Ranking
#6,683
of 13,686 nationally

About The Willows Primary School

The Willows Primary School in West Berkshire is a mixed state primary for children aged 2 to 11, currently home to 383 pupils against a capacity of 450. That leaves some headroom, but the school is clearly in demand: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 42 applications for 30 places, with 20 of those coming as first preferences. The oversubscription ratio sits at 1.4, meaning for every ten places, fourteen families applied. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 25.1%, which is notably higher than the national average for primary schools (around 23%) and suggests a genuinely mixed intake that reflects the local community. Headteacher Joanna MacArthur leads a school that has no religious character, and the site includes a nursery provision for the youngest children. With a pupil count that is 85% of capacity, the school is well-subscribed but not bursting, offering a realistic chance of a place for families who live nearby.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range2 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressPyle Hill, The Willows Primary School, Pyle Hill, Newbury, West Berkshire, RG14 7SJ
HeadteacherJoanna MacArthur
Local AuthorityWest Berkshire
Number of Pupils383
Free School Meals (FSM)25.1%
School Capacity383 / 450 (85% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

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

7 Dec 2021
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 26 Jan 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
Sports HallPlaying FieldsLibraryMusic RoomsSensory RoomArt StudiosOutdoor PlaygroundChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

10

Sports

AthleticsTennisNetballDanceSwimming

Clubs & Activities

GardeningChessScience ClubEco ClubDrama

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyMulti-Sensory

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:55 – 15:10

Breakfast club

08:00-08:55

After-school care

15:10-17:30

Source: thewillowsprimary.org. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Willows Primary School

The Willows Primary School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.