Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #193 in Suffolk public Top 95% UK

The Willows Primary School

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

personMrs Kelly Head

corporate_fareORWELL MULTI ACADEMY TRUST

location_onIpswich, IP2 9ER

language Visit Website phone 1473683178

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

356

school

Expected Standard

35%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

0.9x

summarize

The Willows Primary School is a Academy converter primary school in Ipswich, serving ages 3-11. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards. Ranks in the top 95% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

The Willows Primary School is an academy converter in Ipswich, Suffolk, admitting pupils aged 3-11. It is part of ORWELL MULTI ACADEMY TRUST. The school has approximately 306 pupils on roll, of whom 55% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 35% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 6% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #193 of 225 primaries in Suffolk and #12,983 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Requires improvement, behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement, personal development Good, and leadership and management Requires improvement.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 15.7:1. There are 3 teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 3.7 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

35%

LA 57%

Reading54% LA 73%

Writing50% LA 68%

Maths50% LA 69%

Read SS

100

Maths SS

100

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

28%

LA 55%England 61%

Reading52% LA 73% · Eng 74%

Writing39% LA 68% · Eng 72%

Maths43% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

101

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

20%

LA 54%England 60%

Reading41% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Writing32% LA 67% · Eng 71%

Maths39% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

100

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-3.3

Read

LA 0.0

-5.1 to -1.4

-5.3

Write

LA -0.4

-7.1 to -3.5

-4.6

Maths

LA -0.6

-6.4 to -2.9

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

51%

LA 61%England 65%

Reading66% LA 71% · Eng 73%

Writing74% LA 75% · Eng 78%

Maths66% LA 75% · Eng 79%

Read SS

101

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

-3.1

Read

LA -0.6

-5.1 to -1.1

-1.5

Write

LA -0.7

-3.4 to 0.4

-3.4

Maths

LA -1.1

-5.2 to -1.6

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

47%

LA 60%

Reading67% LA 73%

Writing97% LA 74%

Maths53% LA 71%

Read SS

101

Maths SS

100

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.8

Read

LA -0.4

-4 to 0.4

3.2

Write

LA -0.5

1.1 to 5.3

-2.9

Maths

LA -1.0

-4.9 to -0.9

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

09 January 2025

Inspection Report

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13 February 2024

Inspection Report

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29 January 2020

Inspection Report

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06 April 2017

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2024-02-13

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2020-01-29

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2013-01-29

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2010-06-17

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

Requires improvement

history Predecessor Link

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

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

Suspension Rate

3.3%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

2.0%(6 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 306 pupils. During this period, there were 10 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 3.3%, 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)	306	10	3.3%	0.8%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	311	13	4.2%	0.9%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	357	26	7.3%	0.8%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	357	15	4.2%	0.7%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	347	13	3.7%	0.8%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	362	30	8.3%	0.7%	3
2022/23 (Spring term)	356	18	5.1%	0.6%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	354	17	4.8%	0.6%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	372	8	2.2%	0.5%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	359	10	2.8%	0.5%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	366	6	1.6%	0.5%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	358	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	363	1	0.3%	0.1%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	355	9	2.5%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	375	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	375	4	1.1%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	374	7	1.9%	0.6%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	361	8	2.2%	0.4%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	358	4	1.1%	0.5%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	355	14	3.9%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	360	5	1.4%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	360	8	2.2%	0.4%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	362	15	4.1%	0.5%	1

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

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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.

Speech, Language & Communication 31 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 19 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 14 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 7 pupils

Hearing Impairment 2 pupils

Physical Disability 2 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 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.

69.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

62.0%Positive

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

14.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree7%

agree31%

disagree28%

strongly disagree21%

don't know14%

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

strongly agree7%

agree38%

disagree41%

strongly disagree14%

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

strongly agree3%

agree14%

disagree48%

strongly disagree17%

not applicable17%

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

yes38%

no62%

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

strongly agree9%

agree9%

disagree27%

strongly disagree36%

dont know18%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree14%

agree17%

disagree28%

strongly disagree14%

don't know28%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree17%

agree48%

disagree31%

don't know3%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree7%

agree28%

disagree38%

strongly disagree28%

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

strongly agree7%

agree59%

disagree28%

don't know7%

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

strongly agree7%

agree59%

disagree17%

strongly disagree7%

don't know10%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

agree38%

disagree41%

strongly disagree7%

don't know14%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes24%

no76%

Top Primary Schools in Suffolk

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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The Albert Pye Community Primary School

Good

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Lavenham Community Primary School

Good

location_on Sudbury, CO10 9RB

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Red Oak Primary School

Good

location_on Lowestoft, NR33 0RZ

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Woodhall Primary School

Good

location_on Sudbury, CO10 1ST

emoji_events #4 in LA

Abbots Green Primary Academy

Good

location_on Bury St Edmunds, IP32 7PJ

emoji_events #5 in LA

Poplars Community Primary School

Requires improvement

location_on Lowestoft, NR32 4HN

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View all schools in Suffolk 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 Suffolk

The Albert Pye Community Primary School

Lavenham Community Primary School

Red Oak Primary School

Woodhall Primary School

Abbots Green Primary Academy

Poplars Community Primary School