Schools by area › Manchester › The Willows Primary School
The Willows Primary School
Primary · Mixed · Ages 3–11 · Academy
Tayfield Road, Woodhouse Park, Manchester M22 1BQ · willows.manchester.sch.uk · 0161 437 4444
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Jul 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 60%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Manchester 58%, England 62%
- Last distance offered
- No limit
- Reception, September 2026 entry · Manchester Council
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 407
- 96% of 423 places
- Local authority
- Manchester
- Nursery class
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 57.5%
- First language not English
- 19.2%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, everyone who applied was offered a place. Source: Manchester Council’s document.
For Reception in September 2026, 36 families put the school first and 37 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Reception | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 37 | 36 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 46 | 46 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 47 | 42 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 47 | 41 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 58 | 52 | 0.9 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25, 60% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 3% the higher standard. Across Manchester it was 58%, and across England 62%.
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ●60% | 62% | ||
| ▼3% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●106 | 106 | ||
| ●103 | 105 | ||
| ●105 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected The Willows Primary School on 14 July 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: Expected standard
- Personal development and well-being: Expected standard
- Early years: Needs attention
- Leadership and governance: Needs attention
- Inspected
- 14 Jul 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Expected standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Needs attention |
| Achievement | Needs attention |
| Attendance and behaviour | Expected standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Expected standard |
| Early years | Needs attention |
| Leadership and governance | Needs attention |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Jun 2022
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Jun 2022Good
Quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Good Early years Good Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Nov 2016Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good Safeguarding Effective Feb 2015Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Good Early years Requires improvement
What parents said
76% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (29 replies, to 2 April 2023).
- Recommend
- 76%
- Replies
- 29
- 6% · 2 Apr 2023
based on the 79% who raised concerns
based on the 45% who had a child bullied