Schools by area › Somerset › Willowdown Primary School
Willowdown Primary School
Primary · Mixed · Ages 2–11 · Sponsored academy
Kings Drive, Bridgwater TA6 4FU · willowdownprimaryschool.org.uk · 01278 558758
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Jan 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 66%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Somerset 57%, England 62%
- Demand for places
- 0.9
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 361
- 86% of 420 places
- Local authority
- Somerset
- Nursery class
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 22.6%
- First language not English
- 34.6%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, 37 families put the school first and 42 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 | 42 | 37 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 33 | 30 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 56 | 56 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 45 | 46 | 1▲ | 98% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 42 | 55 | 1.3▲ | 76% |
Results
In 2024/25, 66% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 3% the higher standard. Across Somerset it was 57%, and across England 62%.
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▲66% | 62% | ||
| ▼3% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●104 | 106 | ||
| ●104 | 105 | ||
| ●103 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Willowdown Primary School on 6 January 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Strong standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard
- Achievement: Expected standard
- Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard
- Personal development and well-being: Expected standard
- Early years: Expected standard
- Leadership and governance: Strong standard
- Inspected
- 6 Jan 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Strong standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard |
| Achievement | Expected standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Expected standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Expected standard |
| Early years | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Strong standard |
Previously: Requires improvement, graded inspection, May 2023
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
- Sept 2025Monitoring visitEffective action
May 2023Requires improvement
Quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Early years Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective - May 2021Monitoring visitEffective action
- Mar 2021Monitoring visitEffective action
Before September 2019
Jun 2019Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Early years Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective Apr 2017Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Early years Good Safeguarding Effective
What parents said
94% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (31 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 94%
- Positive
- 84%
- Replies
- 31
- 9% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 94% who raised concerns
based on 12 parents (39%) whose child was bullied
based on 13 parents (42%) with SEND