Schools by area › St. Helens › Willow Bank School
Willow Bank School
All-through · Mixed · Ages 8–16 · Community special school
Winwick Road, St Helens, Newton-le-Willows WA12 8DE · willowbank.st-helens.sch.uk · 01744 678745
On the mapSearch near WA12 8DE
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- May 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 4.8
- average Attainment 8 score. St. Helens 41.8, England 46
- Pupils
- 70
- 5 over 65 places · 108%
- Local authority
- St. Helens
- Free school meals
- 70%
- First language not English
- 1.4%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 4.8, and 0% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across St. Helens it was 41.8, and across England 46.
In 2024/25, 0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 0% the higher standard. Across St. Helens it was 62%, and across England 62%.
Key stage 2 results
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▼0% | 62% | ||
| ▼0% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ▼90 | 106 | ||
| ▼92 | 105 | ||
| ▼89 | 105 | ||
hidden: too few pupils to publish
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼4.8 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼0.0% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼0.0% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼0.0% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼0.32 | 4.09 |
hidden: too few pupils to publish
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| Further education | 55.6 | +5.6 |
| Activity not captured | 44.4 | +27.7 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Willow Bank School on 12 May 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Expected standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Needs attention
- Achievement: Needs attention
- Attendance and behaviour: Needs attention
- Personal development and well-being: Expected standard
- Leadership and governance: Expected standard
- Inspected
- 12 May 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Expected standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Needs attention |
| Achievement | Needs attention |
| Attendance and behaviour | Needs attention |
| Personal development and well-being | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |
Previously: Remains Good, ungraded inspection, Apr 2022
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Apr 2022Ungraded inspectionRemains Good
Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Feb 2016Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good Safeguarding Effective Oct 2013Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement