Willow Grove Primary School, Wigan
Willow Grove Primary School is a special school for pupils aged 5 to 11 in Wigan. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in April 2023.
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Willow Grove Primary School in detail
Willow Grove Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "At Willow Grove, we are committed to creating a safe, nurturing and supportive environment where every child can learn, grow and thrive. We recognise that every child's journey is unique, and we take a trauma-informed, attachment-aware approach to ensure that all children feel seen, heard and valued."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Willow Grove Primary School are Landgate School, Bryn (1.5 miles, Good); Ascent Autism Specialist College (1.5 miles, Good); Martha H School (1.9 miles); and Learn 4 Life School (2.1 miles, Good).
Landgate School, BrynAscent Autism Specialist CollegeMartha H SchoolLearn 4 Life School
Who goes there
52.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 0% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Willow Grove Primary School has an education, health and care plan (68 of 68 in 2026). The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Willow Grove Primary School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Bryn Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Conway Road (near), 220 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Willow Grove Primary School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
Willow Grove Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
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; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its April 2023 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
52.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SEMH
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 14% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 6% to 0% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 6% to 0% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Willow Grove Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Willow Grove Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Willow Grove Primary School is in Wigan; for families living there:
Apply to Wigan for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 3
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 3 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
1 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 Wigan is 10 (the median across 146 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
94%
Near capacity
68 pupils
72 places
4 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Wigan
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Wigan
Across Wigan council
Places available
4,061
Applications
3,718
Got 1st preference
91.1%
Got preferred school
97.6%
All secondary applications across Wigan council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
68
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Willow Grove Primary School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
68
Total Pupils
61
Boys
7
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
12
Teachers
5.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£54,075
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.0%
Overall absence
19.2%
Persistent absence
73
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Questions parents ask about Willow Grove Primary School
What are SATs results like at Willow Grove Primary School?
Of the pupils at Willow Grove Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 14% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Willow Grove Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Willow Grove Primary School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in April 2023. At its previous graded inspection in 2011 it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Willow Grove Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Willow Grove Primary School is oversubscribed, Wigan allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Willow Grove Primary School?
Willow Grove Primary School has around 68 pupils on roll. 53% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Willow Grove Primary School have specialist SEN provision?
Willow Grove Primary School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
What is attendance like at Willow Grove Primary School?
7% of sessions were missed at Willow Grove Primary School in 2024/25. 19.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Willow Grove Primary School?
Apply through Wigan's coordinated admissions process, naming Willow Grove Primary 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 Grove Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 3 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 1 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 Wigan is 10 (the median across 146 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Willow Grove Primary School?
Willow Grove Primary School is at Willow Grove, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan, Greater Manchester, WN4 8XF.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)