Willow Brook Primary School Academy
98%
Capacity
664
Pupils
3.5x
Demand
About Willow Brook Primary School Academy
Willow Brook Primary School Academy is a school that parents clearly want to get into. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 315 applications for just 90 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.5. Of those, 108 families put it down as their first preference, and 77 were offered a spot. That level of demand is a strong signal in itself. The school is a state-funded primary for mixed genders, ages 3 to 11, located in Waltham Forest, London. It has a nursery provision and a headteacher named Lucie Dawn. With 664 pupils on roll against a capacity of 675, it is running very close to full. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 22.1 per cent, which is a useful benchmark for understanding the school's intake.
Academically, Willow Brook is performing at a very high level. In its most recent Ofsted inspection, carried out in 2023, the school was judged Outstanding overall, with Outstanding marks for early years provision, leadership and management, and the quality of education. This is a significant turnaround from its previous graded inspection in 2017, when it was rated Requires Improvement. At Key Stage 2 in the 2023/24 academic year, 92 per cent of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a local authority average of 74 per cent. The school ranked 5th out of 48 primary schools in Waltham Forest on this measure, placing it in the top five. Nationally, it sits in the top two per cent of all primary schools. Average scores in reading and maths were 112 and 111 respectively, well above the national benchmark of 100.
The school offers a broad set of facilities including a sensory room, forest school, gymnasium, art studios, library, playing fields and a chapel. Sports on offer include athletics, cross country, football, gymnastics and netball, while clubs range from drama and art to film, gardening and book club. Willow Brook also has a strong SEND offer, with provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, speech, language and communication needs, social, emotional and mental health support, physical disabilities, autistic spectrum disorder and other difficulties. For families who want a school with clear academic results, strong parental demand and a wide range of enrichment, Willow Brook is a compelling choice. Its Outstanding Ofsted rating and top-tier KS2 outcomes make it one of the strongest state primaries in the borough.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | 190 Church Road, London, Waltham Forest, E10 7BH |
| Headteacher | Lucie Dawn |
| Local Authority | Waltham Forest |
| Number of Pupils | 664 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 22.1% |
| School Capacity | 664 / 675 (98% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
15 Sept 2023Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Latest inspection (15 Sept 2023): School remains Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 2 Oct 2017. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (92%)
225th of 13,686
Nationally
52nd of 1,592
In London
5th of 48
In Waltham Forest
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
92%
Expected Standard
37%
Higher Standard
'22/23
90%
'23/24
92%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
10Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed90
315
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
108 families put this school as their 1st choice (34% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White (other)25.5%
- White British23.6%
- Asian18.9%
- Mixed15.7%
- Black1.5%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than half of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
18
Total schools
16
Oversubscribed
13
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Willow Brook Primary School Academy
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
190 Church Road, London
Waltham Forest, E10 7BH
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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