The Willows School, Lincoln
The Willows School is a special school for pupils aged 5 to 15 in Lincoln.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
The Willows School in detail
The Willows School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Below is information for parents, carers and students to help them with key dates, useful links and information about the school. At The Willows School we understand that uniform can be overwhelming for students, but we also understand the importance of having a uniform in school for many reasons."
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 Fortuna School (0.7 miles, Outstanding); The Lincoln St Christopher's School (1.8 miles, Good); Athena School (3.3 miles, Good); and The St Francis Special School, Lincoln (4.4 miles, Outstanding).
Fortuna SchoolThe Lincoln St Christopher's SchoolAthena SchoolThe St Francis Special School, Lincoln
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Hykeham Rail Station, about 1070 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Centurion House (adjacent), 70 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood The Willows School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 7th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Sources: NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 11 months agoOverall
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The Willows School has been thoughtfully designed for pupils with SEND, offering a supportive environment with expert staff trained in behaviour management and understanding of additional needs. The curriculum balances academic learning with crucial life skills through daily PSHE, off-site visits and an Active Citizen programme. The renovated building provides bright, well-resourced classrooms, outdoor spaces and quiet areas where every pupil can thrive.
Key Strengths
- Carefully crafted curriculum with strong emphasis on core subjects and systematic phonics teaching
- Comprehensive PSHE education with daily lessons, themed projects and off-site experiences
- Well-resourced, extensively refurbished premises with bright classrooms, sensory room and outdoor play areas
- Strong safeguarding systems with trained leaders and clear reporting procedures
- Tailored behaviour support plans and training for staff to manage pupils' additional needs
Areas for Improvement
- School hall acoustics being considered for further improvement to address sensory needs
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is effective - leaders have completed appropriate training, a robust policy is in place, staff have clear systems to raise concerns about pupils' safety, and regular reviews ensure right action is taken.
Extracurricular Activities
Off-site visits, community engagement, work experience, student council, Active Citizen programme, themed projects
The Willows School is a new special school for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs and/or autism, all of whom will have an EHC plan. The school is likely to meet all independent school standards when it opens.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with The Willows School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 9
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 9 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 7 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
2 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 Lincolnshire is 6 (the median across 401 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
Area Demand Pressure - Lincoln
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Lincoln
Across Lincolnshire council
Places available
9,247
Applications
7,828
Got 1st preference
84.7%
Got preferred school
96.4%
All secondary applications across Lincolnshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
-%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
The Willows School is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
0
Total Pupils
0
Boys
0
Girls
2026 academic year
Questions parents ask about The Willows School
Does The Willows School have specialist SEN provision?
The Willows School is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
How do I apply to The Willows School?
The Willows School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near The Willows School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 9 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 7 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 2 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 Lincolnshire is 6 (the median across 401 schools, same distance and years).
Where is The Willows School?
The Willows School is at 1 Weaver Road, South Hykeham, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN6 3QN.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)