Willowdown Primary School
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Willowdown Primary School is a sponsored academy in Bridgwater for boys and girls aged 2 to 11. It has 361 pupils and room for 420. About 23 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, a bit fewer than at most schools. We give it 30 out of 100. That puts it below schools like it, ahead of 24% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted visited in January 2026 and gave it a report card, which is below.
Kings Drive, Bridgwater, TA6 4FU01278 558758willowdownprimaryschool.org.ukMrs Katie Sharp headteacherAll details
What Ofsted found
Ofsted visited on 6 January 2026. Instead of one overall word, it now gives a grade for each part of school life. Read the full report on Ofsted's website.
Ofsted says these new grades can't be lined up against the old one-word grades.
Earlier inspections (1)
| Date | Type | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 4 May 2023 | Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 2 | Requires improvement |
Results
Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025
32 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England.
All Year 6 measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | Somerset | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils tested | 32 | 31 | 28 | 20 | 17 | 16 | – | – |
| Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 66% | 58% | 39% | 60% | 71% | 44% | 60% | 63% |
| Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths | 3% | 3% | 4% | 5% | 0% | 13% | 7% | 8% |
| Reading scoreReading average scaled score | 104.0 | 104.0 | 101.0 | 102.0 | 104.0 | 99.0 | 105.1 | 105.6 |
| Maths scoreMaths average scaled score | 104.0 | 102.0 | 101.0 | 103.0 | 101.0 | 97.0 | 103.7 | 104.6 |
| Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score | 103.0 | 102.0 | 102.0 | 105.0 | 106.0 | 101.0 | 104.5 | 105.2 |
| Expected level: readingReading expected standard | 69% | 74% | 54% | 70% | 76% | 56% | – | – |
| Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard | 78% | 61% | 57% | 70% | 71% | 50% | – | – |
| Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed) | 81% | 84% | 61% | 70% | 76% | 63% | – | – |
| Reading progressReading progress score | – | – | -3.2 | -1.4 | +0.6 | -2.0 | – | – |
| Maths progressMaths progress score | – | – | -2.1 | -1.0 | -2.2 | -4.4 | – | – |
| Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged | 55% | 30% | 38% | 50% | 73% | – | – | – |
| Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged | 71% | 71% | 40% | 64% | 67% | – | – | – |
There are no progress figures for 2025. That year group missed their Year 2 tests during Covid, so there was no starting point to measure from. Progress figures come back with the December 2026 results. Tests were cancelled altogether in 2020 and 2021.
Does every child do well here?
A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. 2 of the 4 gaps are smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.
At the end of primary school, 2025
Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.
Getting a place
Open to all. There is no entrance test.
145 places were empty (35% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have grown by 29% since 2021/22.
The last child to get a place lived 1.6 miles away in 2023. Children in care, brothers and sisters of current pupils, faith and other priority groups are placed first. After that, the closer you live, the better your chances. Type in your postcode to see how far away you are.
We measure in a straight line from the middle of your postcode to the school. The council measures its own way, and the cut-off changes every year. Use this as a rough guide, and read the council's admissions booklet before you apply.
How places were given out for September 2023. More children applied than there were places. The last place went to a child living 1.6 miles from the school. Living closer than that didn't guarantee a place, but living much further away meant missing out that year.
| Entry | Places | Applied at all | Got a place | How far the last child lived | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Primary | 35 | 81 | 45 | 1.6 miles | LA |
What a home within 1.6 miles of the school costs
Every home sold within that distance of the school (the typical cut-off over the last three years), of any type, from HM Land Registry records. If homes here cost more than the district average, that is the price people pay to live close enough to get in.
What parents say
From Ofsted's Parent View survey: 31 parents answered in the year to 6 April 2026. Parents choose whether to fill it in, and many only do so when an inspection is coming, so don't read too much into small differences. The England figures are the average for primary schools with enough answers to publish.
Who goes here
Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.
Specialist SEND provision. Resourced provision (extra staff and funding within a mainstream school) with 16 pupils, for social, emotional and mental health.
To get a place in the unit or resourced provision, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school. Other schools in Somerset with social, emotional and mental health provision.
Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 23.2 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 24.7 (England 27.3).
The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: emotional and mental health (23), language and communications needs (18), Moderate learning difficulty (9), Autistic spectrum disorder (1), SEN support but no specialist assessment of type of need (1).
How the mix of pupils has changed
| Census | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils on roll | 361 | 342 | 307 | 306 | 273 | 244 |
| Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals | 22% | 21% | 19% | 20% | 21% | 21% |
| Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language | 35% | 31% | 30% | 27% | 24% | 22% |
| Pupils getting extra supportSEN support | – | 13% | 11% | 6% | 7% | 7% |
| Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans | – | 2% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 3% |
Attendance and behaviour
In 2024/25 pupils were in school 93.0% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.
Attendance year by year
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2018/19 | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sessions missedOverall absence | 7.0% | 9.0% | 7.3% | 6.2% | 3.2% | 6.0% | 5.2% |
| Missed with permissionAuthorised absence | 4.8% | 6.3% | 5.4% | 4.8% | 2.6% | 4.5% | – |
| Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence | 2.1% | 2.6% | 1.9% | 1.5% | 0.7% | 1.5% | – |
| Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence | 21.2% | 25.6% | 20.5% | 20.3% | 5.9% | 16.4% | 12.8% |
| SuspensionsSuspension rate | 3.5 | 7.8 | 9.8 | 6.6 | 5.7 | – | – |
| Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | – |
Staff and money
From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.
Money
From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other primary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.
Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.
The area around the school
Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.
Nearby schools
The closest primary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgwater College Academy | Academy | 0.8 miles | 1,561 | Report card 2026 | 1 | Compare |
| Eastover Primary School | Council | 1.0 miles | 403 | Good 2023 | 54 | Compare |
| St John and St Francis Church School | Academy | 1.3 miles | 421 | Good 2022 | 42 | Compare |
| Northgate Primary School | Free school | 1.4 miles | 258 | Report card 2026 | 67 | Compare |
| Kingsmoor Primary School | Council | 1.7 miles | 178 | Good 2023 | 61 | Compare |
| Puriton Primary School | Academy | 1.7 miles | 200 | Good 2023 | 61 | Compare |
| Westover Green Community School and Autism Centre | Academy | 1.9 miles | 382 | Report card 2026 | 12 | Compare |
| Hamp Nursery and Infants' School | Council | 2.0 miles | 234 | Good 2023 | 11 | Compare |
Compared with schools like it
Our score compares Willowdown Primary School with the 46 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 46 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.
How the score was worked out
The score is out of 100. A 30 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 30% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 15 to 54. That range is wide enough that the school could sit in the next band, so take the band as a rough guide rather than a verdict. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.
| What we looked at | How much it counts | Against schools like it | Effect on the score | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results over three years | 25% | in line | -0.04 | 2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 32 pupils |
| Ofsted inspection | 20% | in line | -0.01 | Ofsted report card, 0.7 years old |
| Progress pupils make | 20% | below | -0.10 | DfE progress measure; 32 pupils |
| Direction of travel over five years | 10% | above | +0.08 | results and attendance rising year on year |
| Attendance and behaviour | 10% | well below | -0.10 | 2024/25; 250 pupils |
| Results, allowing for the mix of pupils | 10% | below | -0.09 | Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 32 pupils |
| What parents say | 5% | above | +0.02 | Ofsted's Parent View survey, allowing for how many parents replied; 31 responses |
Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.
Questions parents ask
Is Willowdown Primary School a good school?
The figures are weak. Willowdown Primary School scores 30 out of 100. That is below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 24% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 15 to 54, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been getting better over the last five years.
What is Willowdown Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted no longer gives schools one overall grade. When it visited on 6 January 2026 it rated teaching as as expected, achievement as as expected, behaviour and attendance as as expected, leadership as strong.
How good are Willowdown Primary School's SATs results?
In summer 2025, 66% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 3% went further and reached the higher level.
How many pupils does Willowdown Primary School have?
361 pupils aged 2 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 420 places, so it is 86% full.
Is Willowdown Primary School oversubscribed, and how far away can you live?
Yes. For September 2023 the last place went to a child living 1.6 miles away. Children in care, brothers and sisters of current pupils and other priority groups come before distance, so the cut-off moves every year.
What is attendance like at Willowdown Primary School?
Pupils were in school 93.0% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 21% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.
What do parents say about Willowdown Primary School?
94% of the 31 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey would recommend it to other parents, and 90% say their child is happy there. Across England, 87% of parents would recommend their child's school.
How big are the classes at Willowdown Primary School?
The average class had 24.1 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. 20% of classes had more than 30 pupils.
Does Willowdown Primary School have specialist SEND provision?
Yes. It has resourced provision (extra staff and funding within a mainstream school) for social, emotional and mental health. To get a place there, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school.
Does Willowdown Primary School have a breakfast club?
Yes. It is on the government's free breakfast club programme, so every pupil can have a free half-hour breakfast club before school.
These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.
Contact and details
- Address
- Kings Drive, Bridgwater, TA6 4FU
- Telephone
- 01278 558758
- Website
- www.willowdownprimaryschool.org.uk
- Headteacher
- Mrs Katie Sharp
- Free breakfast club
- Yes: on the government's programme, so every pupil can have a free half-hour breakfast club before school (listed since September 2026).
- Type of school
- Sponsored academy (Academy sponsor led, academies)
- Phase
- Primary school, ages 2-11, with nursery
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- None
- Multi-academy trust
- Futura Learning Partnership (26 schools)
- Local authority
- Somerset
- Ward
- Bridgwater East & Bawdrip
- Constituency
- Bridgwater
- Setting
- Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
- Opened
- 1 September 2014 (new provision)
- URN
- 140220 · LAESTAB 9332012 · UKPRN 10047227
Where these figures come from
- School details: Department for Education, Get Information About Schools, refreshed daily (this page rebuilt 13 September 2026).
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, monthly; latest publication in our data 27 August 2026.
- Year 6 results: DfE key stage 2 tables, 2024/25.
- Attendance: DfE pupil absence in schools in England, 2024/25 full year.
- Pupil characteristics: DfE school census, January 2026.
- Staff: DfE school workforce census, November 2025.
- Class sizes: DfE schools, pupils and their characteristics, January 2026.
- Pupil premium: DfE allocations and conditions of grant, 2026 to 2027.
- Money: DfE financial benchmarking and insights tool, academy accounts return 2024/25.
- Admissions outcomes: Somerset council's published allocation statistics (source), entry years 2023.
- House prices: HM Land Registry price paid data, December 2023 to December 2025, placed by postcode.
- Breakfast club: DfE list of schools on the free breakfast club programme.
- Neighbourhood: police.uk street-level crime, HM Land Registry price paid data, NaPTAN bus stops, English Indices of Deprivation 2025.
- All under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Full list and update calendar.