Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #28 in Somerset public Top 46% UK

Willowdown Primary School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMrs Natalie Sweet

corporate_fareFUTURA LEARNING PARTNERSHIP

location_onBridgwater, TA6 4FU

language Visit Website phone 1278558758

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

306

school

Expected Standard

66%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.0x

summarize

Willowdown Primary School is a Academy sponsor led primary school in Bridgwater, serving ages 2-11. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards. Ranks in the top 46% of primary schools nationally.

article

School Summary

Willowdown Primary School is an academy sponsor led in Bridgwater, Somerset, admitting pupils aged 2-11. It is part of FUTURA LEARNING PARTNERSHIP. The school has approximately 342 pupils on roll, of whom 27% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 66% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 3% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #28 of 148 primaries in Somerset and #4,810 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Requires improvement, behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement, personal development Requires improvement, and leadership and management Requires improvement.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 28.5:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 1.7 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

66%

LA 57%

Reading69% LA 72%

Writing81% LA 69%

Maths78% LA 69%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

58%

LA 55%England 61%

Reading74% LA 72% · Eng 74%

Writing84% LA 68% · Eng 72%

Maths61% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

102

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

39%

LA 54%England 60%

Reading54% LA 71% · Eng 73%

Writing61% LA 68% · Eng 71%

Maths57% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

101

Maths SS

101

GPS SS

102

Progress (0 = national avg)

-3.2

Read

LA -0.5

-5.6 to -0.8

-1.4

Write

LA -0.4

-3.7 to 0.9

-2.1

Maths

LA -1.4

-4.3 to 0.2

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

60%

LA 60%England 65%

Reading70% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Writing70% LA 75% · Eng 78%

Maths70% LA 73% · Eng 79%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

103

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.4

Read

LA -0.8

-4.3 to 1.4

-1.8

Write

LA -0.4

-4.4 to 0.9

-1.0

Maths

LA -1.4

-3.5 to 1.4

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

71%

LA 63%

Reading76% LA 77%

Writing76% LA 78%

Maths71% LA 73%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

101

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

0.6

Read

LA -0.2

-2.4 to 3.6

-2.1

Write

LA -0.3

-4.9 to 0.7

-2.2

Maths

LA -1.0

-4.9 to 0.5

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

04 May 2023

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

12 May 2021

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

04 March 2021

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

29 September 2020

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

25 June 2019

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

19 April 2017

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2023-05-04

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 2 EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Requires improvement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2019-06-25

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2017-04-19

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

2.0%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.2%(4 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 342 pupils. During this period, there were 7 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 2.0%, which is above the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	342	7	2.0%	0.8%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	347	5	1.4%	0.9%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	313	5	1.6%	0.8%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	307	5	1.6%	0.7%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	307	14	4.6%	0.8%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	318	10	3.1%	0.7%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	306	8	2.6%	0.6%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	302	12	4.0%	0.6%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	288	5	1.7%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	273	7	2.6%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	255	6	2.4%	0.5%	2
2020/21 (Summer term)	259	3	1.2%	0.4%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	244	2	0.8%	0.1%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	239	9	3.8%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	248	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	248	2	0.8%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	242	2	0.8%	0.6%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	241	21	8.7%	0.4%	1
2018/19 (Spring term)	243	17	7.0%	0.5%	1
2018/19 (Autumn term)	243	18	7.4%	0.5%	1
2017/18 (Summer term)	234	6	2.6%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	224	2	0.9%	0.4%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	224	2	0.9%	0.5%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	209	2	1.0%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	204	9	4.4%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	194	3	1.5%	0.5%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

accessibility_new

psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 18 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 16 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 11 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 2 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

72.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

71.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

20.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree20%

agree40%

disagree25%

strongly disagree10%

don't know5%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree40%

agree48%

disagree8%

strongly disagree3%

don't know3%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree18%

agree23%

disagree20%

strongly disagree10%

don't know5%

not applicable25%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes30%

no70%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree42%

agree13%

disagree17%

strongly disagree21%

dont know8%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree28%

agree39%

disagree15%

strongly disagree3%

don't know16%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree31%

agree50%

disagree15%

strongly disagree1%

don't know3%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree33%

agree41%

disagree18%

strongly disagree6%

don't know3%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree36%

agree44%

disagree8%

strongly disagree1%

don't know11%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree28%

agree49%

disagree14%

strongly disagree6%

don't know4%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree29%

agree31%

disagree25%

strongly disagree5%

don't know10%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes65%

no35%

Top Primary Schools in Somerset

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Walton Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Good

location_on Street, BA16 9LA

emoji_events #1 in LA

Preston CofE Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Yeovil, BA21 3SN

emoji_events #2 in LA

Northgate Primary School

Good

location_on Bridgwater, TA6 3EU

emoji_events #3 in LA

St. Michael's Academy

Good

location_on Yeovil, BA21 4JW

emoji_events #4 in LA

Manor Court Community Primary School

Good

location_on Chard, TA20 2ES

emoji_events #5 in LA

St Mary's Voluntary Controlled Church of England Primary School

Good

location_on Bridgwater, TA6 7LX

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Somerset arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Somerset

Walton Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Preston CofE Primary School

Northgate Primary School

St. Michael's Academy

Manor Court Community Primary School

St Mary's Voluntary Controlled Church of England Primary School