Willow Bank Primary School, London

Ofsted's report card from its 3 March 2026 inspection grades Willow Bank Primary School on 7 areas: 7 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils typically achieve well."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders work extensively to promote high attendance and punctuality."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "The curriculum is well sequenced."

Early years - Expected standard. "The well-designed environment provides children with a wide range of opportunities to develop their learning."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders provide a wide range of training to ensure that all staff know how to identify and meet pupils' individual needs."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have a robust understanding of the school's strengths and areas for development."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders provide a wide range of opportunities to support pupils' personal development."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to ensure that teachers systematically check pupils' understanding so that pupils are challenged in their learning and can achieve the best possible outcomes"; "Leaders should strengthen the teaching of writing so that pupils consistently develop their transcription skills"; "Leaders should ensure that professional learning supports staff to develop high-quality interactions so that pupils develop their language and vocabulary as securely as possible".

In 2025, 74% of Year 6 pupils at Willow Bank Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 65% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 79% and 76% in Bexley and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 64% in reading and 66% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 11 families put Willow Bank Primary School as their first choice and 38 named it as one of their preferences, for 12 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Willow Bank Primary School are St John Fisher Catholic Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 90% reading, 90% maths); Boxgrove Primary School (0.4 miles, 85% reading, 83% maths); Parkway Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 42% reading, 27% maths); and Windrush Thamesmead Primary School (0.6 miles, Outstanding, 83% reading, 63% maths).

Willow Bank Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

Willow Bank Primary School is one of 5 schools run by The Woodland Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 68% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

56% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 44.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Black (34%), White British (31%) and Mixed (10%).

Willow Bank Primary School had 14 teachers in 2026, one for every 15 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Abbey Wood Station, about 680 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Yarnton Way / Harrow Manorway (->w), 170 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Willow Bank Primary School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Willow Bank Primary School issued 17 suspensions, 8.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Willow Bank Primary School are Harris Garrard Academy (0.4 miles), Woolwich Polytechnic School for Girls (0.8 miles), Woolwich Polytechnic School (0.8 miles) and St Paul's Academy (0.9 miles).