Thomas Willingale Primary School and Nursery

About Thomas Willingale Primary School and Nursery

Thomas Willingale Primary School and Nursery sends a strong signal to prospective parents: 97% of those who responded to the most recent Parent View survey would recommend the school to others. That confidence is backed up by a clear oversubscription picture. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 144 applications for just 60 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.4. Of those, 74 families put it down as their first preference, and 58 first-preference offers were made. The school is clearly a popular choice in Epping Forest, and it’s easy to see why. Headteacher Teresa Phillips leads a school that is significantly over its stated capacity of 420 pupils, with 487 children currently on roll. That suggests a school that local families trust and want to be part of, even if it means squeezing in a little tighter than planned.

Academically, Thomas Willingale delivers solid, if not spectacular, results. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 61% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That’s almost exactly in line with the Essex local authority average of 62%, so the school is holding its own against the wider county. Reading and maths average scores came in at 104 and 105 respectively, both a touch above the national benchmark of 100. At the higher standard, 7% of pupils achieved the top marks across all three subjects, while 28% hit the higher bar in maths and 30% in reading. The school’s most recent graded Ofsted inspection, back in November 2017, rated it Good overall, with leadership, management and early years provision all judged Good. An ungraded inspection in April 2023 confirmed the school remains Good, so the quality of education has been consistently solid for some time.

For families considering Thomas Willingale, the practical offering is strong. The school has a nursery provision for three-year-olds, which is a real bonus for working parents looking for a single-site journey from early years right through to Year 6. Facilities include a sports hall, library, ICT suite, art studios and a forest school, plus a sensory room that will be particularly valuable given the school’s broad SEND offer. The school lists support for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, dyslexia, physical disabilities and social, emotional and mental health needs, so it’s well set up to include a wide range of learners. Sports provision includes football, cricket, swimming, dance and cross country, and there are clubs for gardening, drama and choir. If you live within the catchment and want a well-regarded, inclusive primary with a nursery attached and a strong local reputation, this one is worth a close look.

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