Willow Dene School, Plumstead
Willow Dene School is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 19 in Plumstead, part of The Compass Partnership of Schools. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2022.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2022)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Willow Dene School in detail
Willow Dene School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Willow Dene is an outstanding special school for children and young people with a range of Special Educational Needs aged 2-19, primarily from the Royal Borough of Greenwich."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Willow Dene School are ADO River Valley School (0.1 miles, Good); Waterside School (1 mile, Outstanding); The Anchor Sendfriendly Centre (1.3 miles); and Park View Academy (1.3 miles, Good).
ADO River Valley SchoolWaterside SchoolThe Anchor Sendfriendly CentrePark View Academy
The trust
Willow Dene School is one of 28 schools run by The Compass Partnership of Schools, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 6 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
56.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 28.6% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Black (35%), White British (24%) and Mixed (15%).
Almost every pupil at Willow Dene School has an education, health and care plan (313 of 315 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Welling Rail Station, about 1180 metres away (roughly a 15-minute walk).
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Glenmore Arms (->n), 300 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
Willow Dene School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE multi-academy trust performance data; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its November 2022 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
56.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from Willow Dene School
Sixth Form Creative Arts Showcase: The Café at the Edge of the Woods
23 Jul 2026
Leavers 2026
15 Jul 2026
Year 14 Big Night Out
15 Jul 2026
Welcoming Our New Early Career Teachers to Compass Eko
13 Jul 2026
Little Wandle Conference 2026
8 Jul 2026
Sports day 2026
8 Jul 2026
From Willow Dene School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Willow Dene School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Willow Dene School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Willow Dene School is in Greenwich; for families living there:
Apply to Greenwich for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 16
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 16 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 14 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise.
4 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 Greenwich is 52 (the median across 108 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
119%
Over capacity
315 pupils
264 places
51 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Plumstead
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Plumstead
Across Greenwich council
Places available
2,893
Applications
3,054
Got 1st preference
60.2%
Got preferred school
88.2%
All secondary applications across Greenwich council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good and may be improving; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
2
SEN Support
313
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
315
Total Pupils
206
Boys
109
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
53
Teachers
5.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£61,139
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
11.3%
Overall absence
34.4%
Persistent absence
285
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Willow Dene School
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Willow Dene School
What are SATs results like at Willow Dene School?
Of the pupils at Willow Dene School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Willow Dene School's Ofsted rating?
Willow Dene School was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2022. At its previous graded inspection in 2012 it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Willow Dene School?
No fixed boundary. When Willow Dene School is oversubscribed, Greenwich allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Willow Dene School?
Willow Dene School has around 315 pupils on roll. 57% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Willow Dene School?
11.3% of sessions were missed at Willow Dene School in 2024/25. 34.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Willow Dene School?
Apply through Greenwich's coordinated admissions process, naming Willow Dene 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.
How many road collisions happen near Willow Dene School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 16 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 14 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise. 4 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 Greenwich is 52 (the median across 108 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Willow Dene School?
Willow Dene School is at Swingate Lane, Plumstead, SE18 2JD.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)