The Willows
The Willows is an independent special school in Hyndburn for pupils aged 5 to 16. It has 23 pupils on roll. The latest Ofsted rating for The Willows is Good, from an inspection in September 2025.
Ofsted inspection: September 2025.
| Type | Independent School / Other independent special school |
| Age Range | 5-16 |
| Religion | Unknown |
| Address | Willow Grange Henry Street Rishton Lancashire BB1 4JJ |
| Reference Number | 150634 |
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 23 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 95.65%
Girls: 4.35% |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 2 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 3 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 4 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 5 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 6 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 7 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 8 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 9 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 10 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 11 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|
The Willows is performing well overall, achieving a 'Good' rating across all key areas including the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. The school has successfully fostered a positive learning environment where pupils, many of whom have faced challenges in previous educational settings, can re-engage with their learning and thrive. The curriculum is ambitious and tailored to meet the diverse needs of pupils, ensuring they gain essential knowledge and skills. The school's commitment to supporting personal development through external activities is commendable and enriches the students' educational experience.
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Good |
| Last Report Date | 08 Jul 2025 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 08 Jul 2025 | Standard inspection: |
| 06 Jun 2024 | Pre-registration inspection |
| Proposed to open |
Strengths
- Strong ethos supporting focus on learning
- High expectations for pupils’ achievement
- Effective transition programme for new pupils
- Building trusting relationships between staff and pupils
- Skilled support for managing behaviour and emotions
- Broad curriculum with targeted support in core subjects
- Strong commitment to personal development and external opportunities
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistent implementation of some curriculum aspects
- Lack of effective use of assessment information to inform teaching
- Uneven experiences in subjects like PSHE
In 2025–26, 0.0% of pupils at The Willows were on SEN support (nationally 18.4%) and 100.0% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 7.9%).
Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded independent school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.
| Name | Distance |
|
Rishton Methodist Primary School
George Street, Rishton, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 4JF |
0.08 miles |
|
St Charles' Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
Knowles Street, Rishton, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 4HT |
0.25 miles |
|
Rishton St Peter and St Paul's Church of England Primary School
Arundel Street, Rishton, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 4DT |
0.38 miles |
|
Great Harwood St John's Church of England Primary School
St John's Street, Great Harwood, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB6 7ES |
1.04 miles |
|
Clayton-le-Moors All Saints' Church of England Primary School
Church Street, Clayton-le-Moors, Accrington, Lancashire, BB5 5HT |
1.06 miles |
|
Great Harwood Primary School
Rushton Street, Great Harwood, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB6 7JQ |
1.12 miles |
|
St Wulstan's Roman Catholic Primary School, Great Harwood
Rushton Street, Great Harwood, Lancashire, BB6 7JQ |
1.12 miles |
|
St Nicholas Church of England Primary School
St Nicholas Road, Church, Accrington, Lancashire, BB5 4DN |
1.24 miles |
|
Clayton-le-Moors Mount Pleasant Primary School
Earl Street, Clayton-le-Moors, Accrington, Lancashire, BB5 5NH |
1.31 miles |
|
Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, Church
Bradshaw Row, Church, Accrington, Lancashire, BB5 4HG |
1.39 miles |
|
Oswaldtwistle West End Primary School
Aspen Lane, Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, BB5 4QA |
1.43 miles |
|
St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, Clayton-le-Moors
Devonshire Drive, Clayton-le-Moors, Accrington, Lancashire, BB5 5RJ |
1.49 miles |
|
Great Harwood St Bartholomew's Parish Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
Ash Street, Great Harwood, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB6 7QA |
1.53 miles |
|
Oswaldtwistle St Paul's Church of England Primary School
Union Road, Oswaldtwistle, Accrington, Lancashire, BB5 3DD |
1.62 miles |
|
Accrington Hyndburn Park Primary School
Park Road, Accrington, Lancashire, BB5 1ST |
1.62 miles |
|
Oswaldtwistle White Ash School
Thwaites Road, Oswaldtwistle, Accrington, Lancashire, BB5 4QG |
1.63 miles |
|
Oswaldtwistle St Andrew's Church of England Primary School
Springfield Street, Oswaldtwistle, Accrington, Lancashire, BB5 3LG |
1.68 miles |
|
St Hubert's Roman Catholic Primary School, Great Harwood
Hallfield Road, Great Harwood, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB6 7SN |
1.68 miles |
|
Intack Primary School
Whitebirk Road, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 3HY |
1.69 miles |
|
Oswaldtwistle Moor End Primary School
White Ash Lane, Oswaldtwistle, Accrington, Lancashire, BB5 3JG |
1.76 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
The Hyndburn Academy
Stourton Street, Rishton, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 4ED |
0.4 miles |
|
Park View
73 Grange Street, Clayton-le-Moors, Accrington, BB5 5PJ |
1.15 miles |
|
Accrington St Christopher's Church of England High School
Queen's Road West, Accrington, Lancashire, BB5 4AY |
1.5 miles |
|
Accrington Academy
Queens Road West, Accrington, Lancashire, BB5 4FF |
1.67 miles |
|
Rhyddings
Haworth Street, Oswaldtwistle, Accrington, Lancashire, BB5 3EA |
1.74 miles |
|
Mount Carmel Roman Catholic High School, Hyndburn
Wordsworth Road, Accrington, Lancashire, BB5 0LU |
2.09 miles |
|
The Alternative School
30 St. James Street, ACCRINGTON, Lancashire, BB5 1NT |
2.15 miles |
|
Rawdhatul Ilm Wal Huda
32 Moss Street, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 5JT |
2.19 miles |
|
Jamiatul-Ilm Wal-Huda UK School
30 Moss Street, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 5JT |
2.24 miles |
|
Islamiyah School
Willow Street, Little Harwood, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 5NQ |
2.3 miles |
|
Our Lady and St John RC High School, a Voluntary Academy
North Road, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 1PY |
2.43 miles |
|
Newfield School
Old Bank Lane, Off Shadsworth Road, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 2PW |
2.74 miles |
|
Al Islah Girls' High School
108 Audley Range, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 1TF |
2.78 miles |
|
Blackburn Central High School
Haslingden Road, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB2 3HJ |
3.07 miles |
|
Pleckgate High School
Pleckgate Road, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 8QA |
3.09 miles |
|
The Hollins
Hollins Lane, Accrington, Lancashire, BB5 2QY |
3.12 miles |
|
St Augustine's Roman Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy
Elker Lane, Billington, Elker Lane, Billington, Clitheroe, Lancashire, BB7 9JA |
3.39 miles |
|
Blackburn College
Blackburn College, Harrison Centre, Feilden Street, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB2 1LH |
3.41 miles |
|
Markazul Uloom
Park Lee Road, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB2 3NY |
3.52 miles |
|
Noorul Uloom
Park Lee Rd, Blackburn, BB2 3NY |
3.52 miles |
All schools in Hyndburn · Lancashire local authority: places and applications
What is The Willows's Ofsted rating?
The latest Ofsted rating for The Willows is Good, from an inspection in September 2025.
When was The Willows last inspected by Ofsted?
The Willows was last inspected in September 2025.
How many pupils does The Willows have?
The Willows has 23 pupils on roll.
What age range does The Willows cover?
The Willows for pupils aged 5 to 16.
Where is The Willows?
The Willows is at Willow Grange, Henry Street, Rishton, Lancashire, BB1 4JJ.