Academy converter · Knowsley

Willow Tree Primary School

4–11Ages
176Pupils
PrimaryPhase
146848URN

Bedford Close, Huyton, Liverpool, L36 1XH · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jun 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.2per place

0.7 below Knowsley median (1.9)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Knowsley

25 applications for 21 places · 48th of 48 in Knowsley

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

56%met the expected standard

Knowsley 59% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 27 June 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Early years provision		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

1.2applications per place, Reception

0.7 below Knowsley median (1.9) 1.0 below England median (2.2)

25 applications · 21 places offered · 15 named it first

2026 1.2; Knowsley median median 1.9
2025 1.5; Knowsley median median 1.9
2024 1.6; Knowsley median median 1.8
2023 1.3; Knowsley median median 1.9
2022 2.0; Knowsley median median 1.8
2021 1.4; Knowsley median median 1.7
2020 0.9; Knowsley median median 1.8
2019 1.2; Knowsley median median 1.8; as the previous school
2018 0.9; Knowsley median median 1.9; as the previous school
2017 1.2; Knowsley median median 1.8; as the previous school
2016 0.9; Knowsley median median 1.9; as the previous school
2015 1.2; Knowsley median median 1.8; as the previous school
2014 1.7; Knowsley median median 1.8; as the previous school

More applications per place than the Knowsley median in 1 of 7 years.

This school
Knowsley median

Dashed bars: as Mosscroft Primary School (URN 104439), the previous school.

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	21	25	1.2	15	0.71
Sep 2025	18	27	1.5	15	0.83
Sep 2024	17	27	1.6	15	0.88
Sep 2023	25	32	1.3	21	0.84
Sep 2022	10	20	2.0	10	1.00
Sep 2021	17	23	1.4	13	0.76
Sep 2020	21	18	0.9	12	0.57
Sep 2019 *	24	29	1.2	9	0.38
Sep 2018 *	23	21	0.9	11	0.48
Sep 2017 *	24	29	1.2	11	0.46
Sep 2016 *	25	22	0.9	14	0.56
Sep 2015 *	25	30	1.2	11	0.44
Sep 2014 *	18	30	1.7	15	0.83

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 63% · Writing 69% · Maths 69% → all three 56% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard56%30th of 48 in Knowsley

Knowsley 59% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard63%

Knowsley 75% England 78%

Higher standard6%

Knowsley 28% England 33%

Average scaled score 103 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard69%

Knowsley 69% England 75%

Greater depth0%

Knowsley 7% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard69%

Knowsley 72% England 77%

Higher standard6%

Knowsley 22% England 24%

Average scaled score 105 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Knowsley median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	56%	0%	103	105
2023/24	63%	0%	106	103
2022/23	57%	11%	104	102

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

Willow Tree Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

1.2applications per place 56%met the SATs standard
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
0.6 km · Knowsley

Outstanding2023

3.0applications per place 83%met the SATs standard
St Gabriel's CofE Primary School
0.6 km · Knowsley

Good2024

1.3applications per place 71%met the SATs standard
St Aidan's Catholic Primary School
0.9 km · Knowsley

2026

1.7applications per place 48%met the SATs standard
Sylvester Primary Academy
1.1 km · Knowsley

Standards maintained2024

1.9applications per place 58%met the SATs standard
Halsnead Primary School
1.5 km · Knowsley

Good2023

2.4applications per place 66%met the SATs standard
Huyton With Roby Church of England Primary School
1.5 km · Knowsley

2026

1.5applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
St Mary and St Paul's CofE Primary School
1.5 km · Knowsley

Good2023

1.6applications per place 47%met the SATs standard
St Columba's Catholic Primary School
1.7 km · Knowsley

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.8applications per place 52%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: Academy converter
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 146848 · 340/2035
Trust: Vantage CE Academies Trust
Capacity: 201 pupils · 176 on roll
Free school meals: 62.9% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 March 2019
Replaced: Mosscroft Primary School (URN 104439)
Address: Bedford Close, Huyton, Liverpool, L36 1XH
Local authority: Knowsley

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