The Willows School, Hayes
The Willows School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Hayes. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2016. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2016)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
The Willows School in detail
The Willows School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "We wish you a very warm welcome to The Willows School Academy Trust, a special school academy for boys and girls. Our school is for children who already have an EHCP (Education and Health Care Plan)."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to The Willows School are Grand Union Village School (0.3 miles); John Chilton School (1.2 miles, Good); Belvue School (1.3 miles, Good); and Hedgewood School (1.7 miles, Good).
Grand Union Village SchoolJohn Chilton SchoolBelvue SchoolHedgewood School
What parents say
10 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Willows School (as of September 2025): 100% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that their child is happy at the school (100%).
Who goes there
60.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 5.7% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (59%), Mixed (21%) and Black (6%).
Almost every pupil at The Willows School has an education, health and care plan (106 of 106 in 2026). The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
The Willows School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Southall Rail Station, about 1.5 miles away in a straight line.
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Pendula Drive (->s), 140 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 590 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Hillingdon (256), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, The Willows School issued 9 suspensions, 9.5 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from September 2016, 10 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
This is a happy, friendly and exciting place to be. Many pupils have experienced disruptions to their learning in previous schools. Some pupils have been excluded in the past, and others have had little or no schooling. As a result of the dedication, expertise and kindness of all staff, pupils settle in really well. They build trusting relationships with staff.
Pupils flourish at The Willows. Not only in their academic achievements but also in their personal development. This is because everyone has extremely high expectations for what pupils can achieve. Staff do whatever it takes to ensure pupils develop their knowledge across the curriculum, especially in English and mathematics. Pupils learn to enjoy school again and take pride in their successes.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
It is extremely clear to see why parents and carers are so happy with all aspects of the school's work. They feel part of their children's journeys. Every step of the way, staff demonstrate such a positive and unwavering commitment to ensuring that each pupil excels.
The ambitious and imaginative curriculum allows pupils to build their knowledge securely in all subjects. Staff use their checks on pupils' learning to sort out any gaps in pupils' prior knowledge. Nothing is left to chance. Staff have an in-depth understanding of what each pupil needs and when. Teaching is skilfully adjusted to meet pupils' needs. This allows all pupils to learn and to show what they know. For example, pupils retold the story of 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt' in a variety of ways, including drawing, map making, and using toys to represent characters.
From Ofsted's October 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its September 2016 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
60.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SEMH
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
10 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 56% to 39% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 44% to 30% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 44% to 39% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with The Willows School
Before and after school care
The Willows School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Hillingdon
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Willows School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Willows School is in Hillingdon; for families living there:
Apply to Hillingdon for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 71
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 6
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 71 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 6 serious and 64 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
13 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Hillingdon is 25 (the median across 111 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
133%
Over capacity
106 pupils
80 places
26 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Hayes
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Hayes
Across Hillingdon council
Places available
3,605
Applications
3,520
Got 1st preference
67.2%
Got preferred school
93.8%
All secondary applications across Hillingdon council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(9)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good and may be improving; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
106
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
The Willows School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
106
Total Pupils
92
Boys
14
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
3
Teachers
35.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£70,321
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.6%
Overall absence
36.4%
Persistent absence
107
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Questions parents ask about The Willows School
What are SATs results like at The Willows School?
Of the pupils at The Willows School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 39% reached the expected standard in reading and 30% did so in maths.
What is The Willows School's Ofsted rating?
The Willows School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in September 2016, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for The Willows School?
No fixed boundary. When The Willows School is oversubscribed, Hillingdon allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to The Willows School?
The Willows School has around 106 pupils on roll. 60% are eligible for free school meals.
Does The Willows School have specialist SEN provision?
The Willows School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
What is attendance like at The Willows School?
8.6% of sessions were missed at The Willows School in 2024/25. 36.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to The Willows School?
Apply through Hillingdon's coordinated admissions process, naming The Willows School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
Does The Willows School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
The Willows School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school.
How many road collisions happen near The Willows School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 71 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 6 serious and 64 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 13 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Hillingdon is 25 (the median across 111 schools, same distance and years).
Where is The Willows School?
The Willows School is at Stipularis Drive, Hayes, Middlesex, UB4 9QB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)