Willowfield Academy, Nottingham
Willowfield Academy is a special school for pupils aged 7 to 16 in Nottingham, part of Raleigh Education Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2022.
- Ofsted
- Good (2022)
Data last updated 2 Oct 2026
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 November 2022 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
81.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Willowfield Academy in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Willowfield Academy are Silver Linings School (0.5 miles); Oak Field School (0.7 miles, Outstanding); Woodlands Academy (0.7 miles, Good); and Foxwood Academy (2.5 miles, Good).
Silver Linings SchoolOak Field SchoolWoodlands AcademyFoxwood Academy
The trust
Willowfield Academy is one of 7 schools run by Raleigh Education Trust, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 18 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2022/23, 56% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 28% to a further education college.
Source: DfE destination measures
Who goes there
80.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 2.6% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2025 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (71%), Mixed (20%) and Black (6%).
Almost every pupil at Willowfield Academy has an education, health and care plan (116 of 116 in 2025). The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Source: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics
Staff and funding
Willowfield Academy employed 23 teachers in 2024. Their average salary was £46,001.
Source: DfE school workforce census; ESFA funding allocations
Getting there
The nearest Underground station is Phoenix Park Tram Stop, about 1.4 miles away.
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Helston Drive, 330 metres away.
Source: NaPTAN (Department for Transport). Straight-line distances.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Willowfield Academy stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 285 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is close to the typical figure around schools in Nottingham (389).
Source: English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2023/24, Willowfield Academy issued 17 suspensions, 16.5 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Source: DfE exclusions statistics
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 20%. Maths has declined from 17% to 10%. Writing has improved from 0% to 20%.
Class Sizes
0.0
Avg class size
0
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
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Getting There
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
99%
Near capacity
119 pupils
120 capacity
1 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Nottingham
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Nottingham
Admissions Demand - Nottingham
Places available
3,708
Applications
3,688
Got 1st preference
80.3%
Got preferred school
94.1%
Secondary admissions across Nottingham (2026/27)
Inspection History(3)
House Prices
Moving into the catchment? See what homes near this school actually cost
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
116
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2025 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2025 academic year
Key Indicators
116
Total Pupils
116
Boys
0
Girls
2025 academic year
Workforce
23
Teachers
5.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£46,001
Mean salary
2024 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
23.40981%
Overall absence
52.5%
Persistent absence
120
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
Willowfield Academy
Brocklewood Primary and Nursery School
Jubilee L.E.A.D. Academy
Bluecoat Primary Academy
Glenbrook Spencer Academy
Melbury Primary School
Silver Linings School
St Teresa's Catholic Primary School
Djanogly Strelley Academy
Ambleside Primary School
Portland Spencer Academy
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Willowfield Academy
What are GCSE results like at Willowfield Academy?
In the 2025 results, pupils at Willowfield Academy achieved an Attainment 8 score of 5.8. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
Source: DfE school performance data
What is Willowfield Academy's Ofsted rating?
Willowfield Academy was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2022. An inspection judges the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.
Source: Ofsted
What is the catchment area for Willowfield Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Willowfield Academy is oversubscribed, Nottingham allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Willowfield Academy?
Willowfield Academy has around 116 pupils on roll. 80% are eligible for free school meals, which is the usual measure of disadvantage in a school's intake.
Source: DfE school census
What is attendance like at Willowfield Academy?
23.4% of sessions were missed at Willowfield Academy in 2024/25. 52.5% of pupils were persistently absent, meaning they missed at least 10% of sessions.
Source: DfE absence statistics
How do I apply to Willowfield Academy?
Apply through Nottingham's coordinated admissions process, naming Willowfield Academy 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.
Where is Willowfield Academy?
Willowfield Academy is at Chingford Road, Bilborough, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG8 3BT.
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