Community school · Stoke-on-Trent

The Willows Primary School

3–11Ages
689Pupils
PrimaryPhase
123999URN

Greatbatch Avenue, Penkhull, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 7JY · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jun 2025 Previous framework

No overall grade given

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.5per place

close to Stoke-on-Trent median (1.4)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Stoke-on-Trent

114 applications for 76 places · 21st of 63 in Stoke-on-Trent

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

73%met the expected standard

Stoke-on-Trent 62% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 10 June 2025Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
Area	Outstanding	Good
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development	Outstanding
Leadership and management		Good
Early years provision		Good

Inspection history

10 June 2025
Graded inspection, no overall grade
4 March 2020
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

1.5applications per place, Reception

close to Stoke-on-Trent median (1.4) 0.7 below England median (2.2)

114 applications · 76 places offered · 72 named it first

HistoryEarlier years not shown: formed from, or split from, other schools.

2026 1.5; Stoke-on-Trent median median 1.4
2025 1.6; Stoke-on-Trent median median 1.5
2024 1.6; Stoke-on-Trent median median 1.5
2023 1.7; Stoke-on-Trent median median 1.6
2022 1.7; Stoke-on-Trent median median 1.7
2021 1.7; Stoke-on-Trent median median 1.6
2020 1.9; Stoke-on-Trent median median 1.7
2019 1.6; Stoke-on-Trent median median 1.7
2018 1.8; Stoke-on-Trent median median 1.7
2017 1.8; Stoke-on-Trent median median 2.0
2016 1.7; Stoke-on-Trent median median 1.9
2015 1.9; Stoke-on-Trent median median 1.9
2014 1.7; Stoke-on-Trent median median 1.7

This school
Stoke-on-Trent median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	76	114	1.5	72	0.95
Sep 2025	90	143	1.6	93	1.03
Sep 2024	87	140	1.6	89	1.02
Sep 2023	89	149	1.7	85	0.96
Sep 2022	90	150	1.7	93	1.03
Sep 2021	89	151	1.7	97	1.09
Sep 2020	88	171	1.9	101	1.15
Sep 2019	90	145	1.6	88	0.98
Sep 2018	90	164	1.8	100	1.11
Sep 2017	86	158	1.8	82	0.95
Sep 2016	86	142	1.7	77	0.90
Sep 2015	89	171	1.9	100	1.12
Sep 2014	85	141	1.7	77	0.91

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 82% · Writing 80% · Maths 84% → all three 73% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard73%12th of 64 in Stoke-on-Trent

Stoke-on-Trent 62% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard82%

Stoke-on-Trent 75% England 78%

Higher standard49%

Stoke-on-Trent 26% England 33%

Average scaled score 108 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard80%

Stoke-on-Trent 75% England 75%

Greater depth14%

Stoke-on-Trent 13% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard84%

Stoke-on-Trent 75% England 77%

Higher standard39%

Stoke-on-Trent 20% England 24%

Average scaled score 107 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Stoke-on-Trent median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	73%	12%	108	107
2023/24	67%	8%	107	107
2022/23	70%	8%	105	106

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

The Willows Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.5applications per place 73%met the SATs standard
St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School
0.8 km · Stoke-on-Trent

Good2022

2.0applications per place 58%met the SATs standard
St John's CofE (A) Primary School
1.1 km · Stoke-on-Trent

2026

1.4applications per place 48%met the SATs standard
Stoke Minster CofE Primary Academy
1.1 km · Stoke-on-Trent

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.3applications per place 42%met the SATs standard
City of Stoke-On-Trent Sixth Form College
1.2 km · Stoke-on-Trent

Not yet inspected
Harpfield Primary Academy
1.4 km · Stoke-on-Trent

Improved significantly2024

1.5applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
Oakhill Primary School
1.7 km · Stoke-on-Trent

Good2023

1.4applications per place 58%met the SATs standard
St Mark's CofE Primary School
1.8 km · Stoke-on-Trent

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.2applications per place 44%met the SATs standard
Hassell Primary School
2.0 km · Staffordshire

Good2023

2.0applications per place 48%met the SATs standard

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Community school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 123999 · 861/2059
Capacity: 690 pupils · 689 on roll
Free school meals: 24.4% of pupils (England median 23%)
SEN provision: Resourced provision
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Address: Greatbatch Avenue, Penkhull, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 7JY
Local authority: Stoke-on-Trent

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources