The Willows Primary School

General Information

Address: Downing Close, Ipswich, IP2 9ER
Phone: 01473683178
Website: Visit school website
Headteacher: Mrs Kelly Head
Age range: 4-11 years
Sixth form: No
Intake: Mixed
Religious character: Does not apply
Number of pupils: 259
School capacity: 420
Pupils eligible for free school meals: 157
% eligible for free school meals: 60.6%
Nursery provision: No

Behaviour

Awaiting Data

About this Behaviour status

We've asked this school for real behaviour figures under Freedom of Information and haven't had a response yet.

Behaviour information for this school has not been added yet.

Attendance

Overall absence: 7.0%
Persistently absent pupils: 22.0%
Data year: 2024/25

About persistent absence

A pupil is counted as "persistently absent" if they miss 10% or more of their possible school sessions - roughly one day in every two weeks. Schools and Ofsted both pay close attention to this figure specifically, since it can highlight a pattern the overall absence rate alone might hide.

SEN

No dedicated Unit or Resourced Provision

SEN Unit and Resourced Provision

Most mainstream schools don't have a dedicated SEN Unit or Resourced Provision - it isn't a mark against a school that doesn't, just a different kind of setup than one that does.

SEN provision information for this school has not been added yet.

Pupils on SEN Support: 18.5%
Pupils with an EHC Plan: 10.0%
Data year: 2025/26

Most common needs - SEN Support

Speech, language and communications needs: 18 pupils
Specific learning difficulty: 17 pupils
Social, emotional and mental health: 7 pupils
Autistic spectrum disorder: 5 pupils
Physical disability: 1 pupil

Most common needs - EHC Plan

Social, emotional and mental health: 9 pupils
Specific learning difficulty: 7 pupils
Autistic spectrum disorder: 6 pupils
Speech, language and communications needs: 4 pupils

These figures show the makeup of the school.

About these SEND figures

These figures give a sense of the makeup of the school - they aren't a judgement on the quality of support provided.

Parent score - no reviews yet –

Behaviour

–

Openness

–

Teaching Quality

–

School Ethos

–

Ability to Deal with Problems

–

Headteacher Approval

–

Would recommend –

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Educational Attainment

Requires improvement 2024 report

About this Ofsted rating

Ofsted changed how it rates schools in the last couple of years, so ratings from different years aren't always on the same scale - that's why we show the year alongside every rating.

Educational attainment data for this school has not been added yet.

View full Ofsted inspection report

Ranked #20 of 20 Ofsted Rating schools of this type in the area

#18The Beeches Community Primary SchoolGood
#19Hillside Primary SchoolRequires improvement
#20The Willows Primary SchoolRequires improvement

Click to see the full ranking

Ofsted Rating ranking

Based on real Ofsted ratings (via official DfE data) for schools on the same four-word grading scale.

#1St Mary's Catholic Primary School, IpswichOutstanding
#2Britannia Primary School and NurseryGood
#3Cliff Lane Primary SchoolGood
#4Dale Hall Community Primary SchoolGood
#5Handford Hall Primary SchoolGood
#6Morland Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#7Piper's Vale Primary - A Paradigm AcademyGood
#8Ranelagh Primary SchoolGood
#9Rushmere Hall Primary SchoolGood
#10Sidegate Primary SchoolGood
#11Sprites Primary AcademyGood
#12St Helen's Primary SchoolGood
#13St John's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, IpswichGood
#14St Margaret's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, IpswichGood
#15St Mark's Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#16St Matthew's Church of England Primary School, IpswichGood
#17St Pancras Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#18The Beeches Community Primary SchoolGood
#19Hillside Primary SchoolRequires improvement
#20The Willows Primary SchoolRequires improvement

Financials

Financial summary information for this school has not been added yet.

Spending per pupil: £7,703 (2024-25)

About this spending figure

A higher or lower position here isn't a sign of a better or worse school - schools have different needs and circumstances - but it can help reassure you that a school has sufficient funding behind your child's education.

Ranked #2 of 27 Spending Per Pupil schools of this type in the area

#1Piper's Vale Primary - A Paradigm Academy£8,624
#2The Willows Primary School£7,703
#3Murrayfield Primary - A Paradigm Academy£7,448
#4Hillside Primary School£7,250

Click to see the full ranking

Spending Per Pupil ranking

Based on official DfE financial return data (Consistent Financial Reporting / Academies Accounts Return) - not a ranking of school quality.

#1Piper's Vale Primary - A Paradigm Academy£8,624
#2The Willows Primary School£7,703
#3Murrayfield Primary - A Paradigm Academy£7,448
#4Hillside Primary School£7,250
#5Ranelagh Primary School£7,054
#6Morland Church of England Primary School£6,923
#7Sidegate Primary School£6,509
#8Rushmere Hall Primary School£6,450
#9St Matthew's Church of England Primary School, Ipswich£6,448
#10Whitehouse Community Primary School£6,293
#11St Pancras Catholic Primary School£6,291
#12St Margaret's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Ipswich£6,276
#13Gusford Community Primary School£6,241
#14Handford Hall Primary School£6,204
#15Rose Hill Primary£6,200
#16St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Ipswich£6,170
#17The Beeches Community Primary School£6,050
#18St Helen's Primary School£6,046
#19Ravenswood Community Primary School£5,966
#20St John's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Ipswich£5,912
#21The Oaks Primary School£5,822
#22Dale Hall Community Primary School£5,756
#23Cliff Lane Primary School£5,455
#24Clifford Community Primary School & Nursery£5,350
#25Sprites Primary Academy£5,303
#26Halifax Primary School£5,210
#27Britannia Primary School and Nursery£4,758

View on the Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool (GOV.UK)