Willows Primary Academy

Willows Primary Academy demonstrates strong overall performance, characterized by a strong culture of inclusion and effective safeguarding measures. The leadership team has a thorough understanding of the school's strengths and areas for improvement, driving significant progress since joining the Future Generation Trust. Pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and disadvantaged backgrounds, thrive in an environment where teaching is effective and tailored to their needs. The personal development program further supports positive relationships and equips pupils with essential skills for life in modern Britain.

Strengths

• Strong culture of inclusion supporting diverse pupil needs
• Effective leadership with a clear vision for improvement
• High-quality training for staff enhancing teaching practices
• Strong personal development program aiding pupils' social skills
• Pupils achieve well in reading, writing, and mathematics

Areas for Improvement

• Need for deeper knowledge development in wider curriculum subjects
• Focus on enhancing fine motor skills for better writing outcomes

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Willows Primary Academy attended 95.3% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 12.7% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.7% of pupils at Willows Primary Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Willows Primary Academy had 21.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 16.4% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 15.4% of pupils at Willows Primary Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.8% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

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 primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Lichfield · Staffordshire local authority: places and applications

Willows Primary Academy is part of Future Generation Trust, which runs 7 schools. The nearest others:

• Gentleshaw Primary Academy Rugeley
• St Peter's CofE Primary Academy Cannock
• Etching Hill CofE Primary Academy Rugeley
• Moat Hall Primary Academy Walsall
• Cheslyn Hay Primary Academy Walsall
• St John's Primary Academy Wolverhampton

What is Willows Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Willows Primary Academy is Expected standard, from an inspection in April 2026.

When was Willows Primary Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Willows Primary Academy was last inspected in April 2026.

How many pupils does Willows Primary Academy have?

Willows Primary Academy has 423 pupils on roll.

What age range does Willows Primary Academy cover?

Willows Primary Academy for pupils aged 2 to 11.

Where is Willows Primary Academy?

Willows Primary Academy is at Willows Primary School, Off Weston Road, Anglesey Road, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 7NU.