Willow Green CIO, Warrington
Willow Green CIO is a special school for pupils aged 16 to 25 in Warrington. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2026, ended in a report card: 5 expected standard. Before that it was rated Requires improvement at its last graded inspection, in April 2024.
- Ofsted report card
- 0 of 5 areas strong or better
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Willow Green CIO in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 12 May 2026 inspection grades Willow Green CIO on 5 areas: 5 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders quickly identify learners' education, support and health needs prior to offering them a place at the college."
Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "There has been a significant change to the leadership and governance at the college since the previous inspection."
Achievement - Expected standard. "Staff plan learners' pathways to reflect their education, health and care plans and individual starting points."
Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have carefully designed pathways to prepare learners for employment and life after college."
Participation and development - Expected standard. "Learners' attendance is high."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to improve their reporting systems, including the way in which they record learners' achievements so that the published data is accurate"; "Leaders should continue to focus on the improvement of the quality of teaching for all learners, to ensure consistency across all classroom and work-related activities"; "Leaders should ensure that all learners participate in work-related activities and external placements which are matched to their skills, abilities and long-term plans for employment".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Willow Green CIO are Infinite Schools - Warrington (0.9 miles); The Empower Academy (1.3 miles); Fox Wood Special School (2.5 miles, Good); and Woolston Brook School (2.5 miles, Good).
Infinite Schools - WarringtonThe Empower AcademyFox Wood Special SchoolWoolston Brook School
Who goes there
Willow Green CIO is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Warrington Bank Quay Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Irwell Road (opposite), 140 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Willow Green CIO stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 280 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, public order offences and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Warrington (96), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 5 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- InclusionExpected standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- Participation and developmentExpected standard
Safeguarding standards: met
By type of provision
| Provision | Curriculum, teaching and training | Achievement | Participation and development |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provision for learners and apprentices with high needs | Expected standard | Expected standard | Expected standard |
Source: Ofsted, further education and skills inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders should continue to improve their reporting systems, including the way in which they record learners' achievements so that the published data is accurate.
- Leaders should continue to focus on the improvement of the quality of teaching for all learners, to ensure consistency across all classroom and work-related activities.
- Leaders should ensure that all learners participate in work-related activities and external placements which are matched to their skills, abilities and long-term plans for employment.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 12 May 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Willow Green CIO excels at building confidence in learners who have had negative experiences in education, helping them re-engage in learning while developing practical and vocational skills. Staff are highly trained in supporting learners' health, therapeutic and sensory needs, with therapy staff skilfully using drawing and talking approaches to help learners build resilience. The college has strong partnerships with local authorities, schools and employers, creating clear pathways that lead most learners into paid or voluntary employment.
Key Strengths
- Staff quickly identify learners' needs and work collaboratively with parents, carers and agencies to provide tailored support
- High learner attendance with strong positive relationships between staff and families
- Comprehensive careers advice and guidance programme including employer talks, mock interviews and travel training
- Most learners achieve their work-related qualifications and progress to paid or voluntary employment
- Nurturing environment for staff with support for professional development and workload management
Areas for Improvement
- Improve recording systems and accuracy of published data on learners' achievements
- Ensure consistency in quality of teaching across all classroom and work-related activities
- Broaden range of external placements to better match learners' employment aspirations
- Ensure all learners have work-related activities matched to their individual skills, abilities and long-term plans
- In some instances, new topics not planned to reflect learners' starting points sufficiently
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met, with leaders and governance fulfilling responsibilities and establishing an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified and managed.
Extracurricular Activities
Monthly employer talks, mock interview workshops, travel training, student parliament, chill and chat sessions, reception area customer service training
Willow Green CIO is an independent specialist college established in September 2021 that provides education and training for young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and social, emotional and mental health needs. The college operates two pathways and was judged to meet expected standards across all areas.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Approved
Section 41
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Willow Green CIO
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Willow Green CIO from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Willow Green CIO is in Warrington; for families living there:
Apply to Warrington for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 11
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 9 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was 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 Warrington is 11 (the median across 96 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 - Warrington
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Warrington
Across Warrington council
Places available
2,880
Applications
2,620
Got 1st preference
88.9%
Got preferred school
98.2%
All secondary applications across Warrington council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(4)
Further education and skills inspection (renewed framework)
Further education and skills inspection
Special educational needs provision
Willow Green CIO is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
Source: Get Information about Schools (GIAS), Department for Education.
Questions parents ask about Willow Green CIO
What is Willow Green CIO's Ofsted rating?
Willow Green CIO's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in April 2024, it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Willow Green CIO?
No fixed boundary. When Willow Green CIO is oversubscribed, Warrington allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Does Willow Green CIO have specialist SEN provision?
Willow Green CIO is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
How do I apply to Willow Green CIO?
Apply through Warrington's coordinated admissions process, naming Willow Green CIO 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 Green CIO?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 9 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was 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 Warrington is 11 (the median across 96 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Willow Green CIO?
Willow Green CIO is at Irwell Road, St Werburghs Development Centre, Warrington, Cheshire, WA4 6DQ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)