Willow Wood Community Primary School, Sunderland
Willow Wood Community Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Sunderland. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 10th-highest of the 43 schools in Sunderland with published results, and 2,234th of 14,452 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.4 first-choice applications for every place. It was full in 2025, at 115% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Below England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Sunderland (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Willow Wood Community Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 88% of Year 6 pupils at Willow Wood Community Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 88% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 78% in Sunderland and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 63% in reading and 80% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Willow Wood Community Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 38 families put Willow Wood Community Primary School as their first choice and 62 named it as one of their preferences, for 28 places offered. That is 1.4 first choices for every place. 10 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Willow Wood Community Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Willow Wood Community Primary School are English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School, Sunderland (under 0.1 miles, 74% reading, 79% maths); Northern Saints Church of England Academy (0.5 miles, 75% reading, 86% maths); Southwick Community Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 54% reading, 60% maths); and Grange Park Primary School (1.2 miles, Good, 68% reading, 65% maths).
Willow Wood Community Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School, SunderlandNorthern Saints Church of England AcademySouthwick Community Primary SchoolGrange Park Primary School
Who goes there
55.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 2.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 77 pupils (26.6%) received SEN support and 10 (3.4%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Staffing
Willow Wood Community Primary School had 16 teachers in 2026, one for every 15 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Pallion (Tyne and Wear Metro Station), about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Redcar Road-School (e-bound), 120 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Willow Wood Community Primary School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
Willow Wood Community Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Willow Wood Community Primary School are Red House Academy (0.3 miles), Castle View Enterprise Academy (1.2 miles) and Monkwearmouth Academy (1.5 miles).
Red House AcademyCastle View Enterprise AcademyMonkwearmouth Academy
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Willow Wood is a happy, welcoming place where children feel safe and behaviour is exceptional. Teachers have strong subject knowledge and use a broad, well-planned curriculum to help pupils understand what they learn deeply - for example, younger pupils explain scientific concepts using proper terminology, and older pupils apply art techniques they've studied. The school provides excellent support for children with additional needs, ensuring they keep up with their peers.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional behaviour and attitudes - lessons and playtimes are calm and orderly with very rare bullying
- Strong support for pupils with SEND who keep up with their peers and achieve well
- Well-trained staff with strong subject knowledge across the curriculum
- Effective phonics programme with most pupils becoming fluent readers by end of key stage 1
- Excellent personal development provision with pupils learning about different cultures and careers
Areas for Improvement
- Some pupils do not read at home, which slows their progress - leaders need to implement plans to develop more reading opportunities and support at school to help all pupils enjoy books with adults
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with strong processes, well-trained staff, robust reporting procedures, and governors providing regular oversight.
Extracurricular Activities
Breakfast club, wide range of clubs and activities, charity work, career talks including online chat with an astronaut
Willow Wood Community Primary School is a good school that has made significant improvements since its previous inspection. The school is characterized by exceptional behaviour, strong leadership, and a broad curriculum that helps pupils achieve well.
At a Glance
55.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 63% to 88% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 80% to 88% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 81% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
22.9
Avg class size
21.6
Infant (KS1)
17.5
KS2
10
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Willow Wood Community Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Willow Wood Community Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Willow Wood Community Primary School is in Sunderland; for families living there:
Apply to Sunderland for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 12
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 10 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
6 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 Sunderland is 13 (the median across 125 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
Your chances of a place at Willow Wood Community Primary School
Will you get a place at Willow Wood Community Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Willow Wood Community Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Willow Wood Community Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Willow Wood Community Primary School.
- Sunderland publishes last distance offered figures, but none for Willow Wood Community Primary School that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Willow Wood Community Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Sunderland got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
115%
Over capacity
242 pupils
210 places
32 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Sunderland
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Sunderland
Across Sunderland council
Places available
3,430
Applications
2,737
Got 1st preference
95.0%
Got preferred school
98.2%
All primary applications across Sunderland council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(9)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
77
SEN Support
10
EHC Plans
30.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
290
Total Pupils
147
Boys
143
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
16
Teachers
18.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£46,793
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,570
Per pupil
£1898k
Total funding
£227k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.4%
Overall absence
18.1%
Persistent absence
216
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Willow Wood Community Primary School
Questions parents ask about Willow Wood Community Primary School
What are SATs results like at Willow Wood Community Primary School?
Of the pupils at Willow Wood Community Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 88% reached the expected standard in reading and 88% did so in maths.
What is Willow Wood Community Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Willow Wood Community Primary School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2023. At its previous graded inspection in 2019 it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Willow Wood Community Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Willow Wood Community Primary School is oversubscribed, Sunderland allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Willow Wood Community Primary School?
Willow Wood Community Primary School was full in 2025, at 115% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Willow Wood Community Primary School?
Classes at Willow Wood Community Primary School average 22.9 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Willow Wood Community Primary School?
Willow Wood Community Primary School has around 290 pupils on roll. 56% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Willow Wood Community Primary School?
6.4% of sessions were missed at Willow Wood Community Primary School in 2024/25. 18.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Willow Wood Community Primary School?
Apply through Sunderland's coordinated admissions process, naming Willow Wood Community Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Willow Wood Community Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 10 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 6 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 Sunderland is 13 (the median across 125 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Willow Wood Community Primary School?
Willow Wood Community Primary School is at Redcar Road, Red House, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR5 5AU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)