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Willowfield School

Waltham Forest, E17 6NDSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Apr 2026
Progress 8
-0.02
Below average
−20+2
Competition
0.7×
Not oversubscribed
140 1st-choice / 195 places
Ranking
#1,581
of 3,141 nationally

About Willowfield School

Willowfield School is a mixed, non-denominational state secondary in Waltham Forest, London, serving pupils from ages 11 to 16. In the local authority, it ranks 8th out of 19 schools of its type by Progress 8 score, placing it just inside the top half. The top-performing peers in the borough are Eden Girls' School, Waltham Forest, Walthamstow Academy, and Walthamstow School for Girls, all of which sit above it in the rankings. Willowfield is also the nearest non-outstanding school to Eden Girls' School, located just 0.9 km away. The school is led by headteacher Rebecca Linden and is currently oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 462 applications for 195 places, with 140 first-preference offers made. That gives an oversubscription ratio of 2.37, indicating solid local demand. Around 31.5% of its 1,004 pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is above the national average and reflects the school's role in a diverse, urban community.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
Address209 Blackhorse Road, London, Waltham Forest, E17 6ND
HeadteacherRebecca Linden
Local AuthorityWaltham Forest
Number of Pupils1,004
Free School Meals (FSM)31.5%
School Capacity1,004 / 1,050 (96% full)

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

6 Oct 2021
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Latest monitoring visit (6 Oct 2021): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 2 Feb 2012. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

10
Astro TurfSwimming PoolSports HallICT SuiteGymnasiumScience LabsDining HallTennis CourtsPlaying FieldsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

15

Sports

TennisCross CountryDanceMartial ArtsSwimmingGymnasticsBasketballRoundersHockey

Clubs & Activities

Eco ClubBook ClubCodingModel United NationsChoirDebate

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.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Willowfield School

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