The Willows School, Rotherham

Ofsted's report card from its 25 November 2025 inspection grades The Willows School on 7 areas: 2 strong standard, 4 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders have very high expectations around attendance."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The school places pupils' personal development at the centre of its work."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils are generally well prepared for the next stage of their education, employment or training."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "The school's ‘I can' ethos drives its ambition to give pupils equal opportunities and the best possible start in life."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Governors and trustees provide appropriate direction and support for the school."

Post 16 provision - Expected standard. "The school provides an inclusive post-16 provision, where students enjoy studying in new on-site accommodation."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "All pupils attending the school have special educational needs and/or disabilities."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that the revised curriculum is implemented effectively and meets the needs of all pupils"; "Leaders should ensure that staff consistently identify gaps in pupils' knowledge and act swiftly to address them".

In its own words: "At The Willows School, we believe that our pupils should have a good understanding of different faiths and cultures in order to be a better member of a multicultural society. We aim to develop a respect for, and understanding of, different religions and cultures as part of everything we do, not just within RE lessons."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include Duke of Edinburgh and forest school.

The school runs after-school care.

The nearest other special schools to The Willows School are Abbeywood School (2.5 miles, Good, selective); Elements Academy (2.5 miles); Hilltop School (2.8 miles, Good); and Newman School (3.3 miles).

The Willows School is one of 23 schools run by Nexus Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.

48 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Willows School (as of April 2026): 92% would recommend the school, 96% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (96%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).

Of the 22 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 96% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 14% to a further education college.

54.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 5.6% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.

Almost every pupil at The Willows School has an education, health and care plan (195 of 197 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.

The Willows School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs and moderate learning difficulties.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of The Willows School.

14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Green Arbour Road/Elgitha Drive (at), 70 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood The Willows School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 72 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Rotherham (146).

In 2024/25, The Willows School issued 6 suspensions, 3.2 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.