Willowbank Primary School
About Willowbank Primary School
Willowbank Primary School in Mid Devon is a state primary for 4 to 11 year olds that currently teaches 247 pupils against a total capacity of 416, meaning there is significant room to grow. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 19.4%, which is above the national average for primary schools and suggests a catchment with above-average levels of disadvantage. Despite that spare capacity, the school is clearly in demand: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 48 applications for just 22 places, with 20 of those applications coming from first-preference families. That works out at roughly 2.2 applications per place, a healthy oversubscription ratio that signals strong local reputation. The school is non-denominational and mixed, and is led by headteacher Hannah Jay. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2023, rated it Good across all five categories — a notable improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2016.
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
17 Jan 2023Source: Ofsted, 8 Mar 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
9Facilities 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
Source: willowbank.devon.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Was this page helpful?
Frequently Asked Questions About Willowbank Primary School
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