The Willows vs The Hyndburn Academy
Side-by-side comparison of key school data
The Willows
Rishton
The Hyndburn Academy
Blackburn
Overview
Phase
Special
Secondary
Type
Other independent special school
Academy sponsor led
Age Range
5–16
11–16
Gender
Mixed
Mixed
Religious Character
-
Does not apply
Admissions
-
Non-selective
Local Authority
Lancashire
Lancashire
Pupils & Capacity
Pupils
23
641
Capacity
40
675
Occupancy
57%
95%
FSM %
-
46.6%
Nursery
Sixth Form
Boarding
Ofsted
Overall Rating
Good
-
Quality of Education
Good
Requires Improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Requires Improvement
Personal Development
Good
Requires Improvement
Leadership & Management
Good
Requires Improvement
Last Inspected
Jul 2025
May 2026
Performance (2026)
Progress 8
-
-
Attainment 8
-
37.1
GCSE Eng+Maths 5+
-
21.7%
KS2 Reading
-
-
KS2 Maths
-
-
KS2 Writing
-
-