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Whiston Willis Primary Academy

Knowsley, L35 2XYPrimaryAges 3–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Outstanding
Jan 2024
KS2 Results
77%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.2×
Oversubscribed
74 1st-choice / 60 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#2180 of 13,686 nationally

About Whiston Willis Primary Academy

Whiston Willis Primary Academy is a state-funded, mixed primary school in Knowsley for children aged 3 to 11, and it is currently running well above its official capacity. With 391 pupils on roll against a capacity of 353, the school is clearly in high demand locally. That demand is confirmed by the admissions data for the 2025/26 intake: the school received 115 applications for just 60 places, with 74 families listing it as their first preference. Of those first-preference applicants, 59 received offers, giving an oversubscription ratio of nearly two to one. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 38.2%, which is significantly above the national average and reflects the school’s role in serving a community with above-average levels of disadvantage. This context makes the school’s strong academic and inspection performance all the more notable.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range3 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressMilton Avenue, Milton Avenue, Prescot, Knowsley, L35 2XY
HeadteacherIAN COOPER
Local AuthorityKnowsley
Number of Pupils391
Free School Meals (FSM)38.2%
School Capacity391 / 353 (111% 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

24 Jan 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Early Years Provision
Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 10 Mar 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

5
LibraryDining HallOutdoor PlaygroundPlaying FieldsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

8

Sports

CricketRoundersCross CountryFootballNetball

Clubs & Activities

ChessFilm ClubDrama

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:40 – 15:10

Breakfast club

07:30-08:40

After-school care

15:10-17:30

Source: whistonwillis.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Whiston Willis Primary Academy

Whiston Willis Primary Academy has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.