Willowfield School, London

Secondary
Community school
Mixed
Ages 1116

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~1.1km)Possible (~1.6km)Unlikely (~2.0km)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Ms Rebecca Linden
Pupils:1,035 / 1,050 capacity
LA:Waltham Forest
Phone:02085274065
Address:209 Blackhorse Road, Walthamstow, London, E17 6ND
Admissions:Non-selective
Status:open

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 8 months ago

Report card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)

Achievement
Expected Standard
Behaviour
Expected Standard
Personal Development
Expected Standard
Leadership
Expected Standard
Inspected 20 January 2026View full report
URN:103100
UKPRN:10015630
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Walthamstow
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Willowfield School excels at creating an inclusive, welcoming environment where all pupils thrive. Teachers are knowledgeable and have high expectations, helping pupils achieve strong exam results - especially in English and maths. The school provides excellent pastoral support and enrichment opportunities, with caring staff who build trusting relationships with pupils.

Key Strengths

  • Strong GCSE results with significantly higher proportions achieving grade 5 or above in English and maths compared to national figures
  • Excellent inclusive culture with effective support for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs
  • Calm, focused learning environment with consistent behaviour expectations and quick responses to bullying or concerns
  • Teachers have strong subject expertise and high expectations for what pupils can achieve
  • Well-structured personal development programme covering relationships, health education and careers guidance

Areas for Improvement

  • In a small number of subjects, teaching is less secure and some pupils do not learn as well as they could
  • Some pupils struggle to explain their learning clearly in certain subjects
  • Uptake of optional enrichment clubs is lower than desired, particularly among pupils with special educational needs and disadvantaged pupils
  • Persistent absence rates rose significantly in 2025, though recent strategies are already showing improvement

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - the school has created an open and positive culture of safeguarding where all legal requirements are met, pupils are kept safer and feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Drama club, running club, philosophy and debate clubs, museums visits, inter-faith events, cultural capital weeks, subject-related enrichment visits

Willowfield School is a well-run secondary school where pupils make steady progress and achieve GCSE results consistently in line with or above national averages. The school creates an inclusive, purposeful environment where pupils feel safe, supported and able to succeed.

At a Glance

34.6%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

Not Applicable

SEN Provision

No

Special Measures

Class Sizes

23.9

Avg class size

42

Total classes

1 class with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

Latest from Willowfield School

From Willowfield School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.

Social & online

Getting There

Train Stations

Blackhorse Road Rail Station
129m · 2 min walk
Blackhorse Road Station (Entrance)
135m · 2 min walk
St James Street Station (Entrance)
704m · 11 min walk

Tube / Metro / Tram

Blackhorse Road Underground Station
149m · 2 min walk

Bus Stops

Blackhorse Road Station (Stop BB)
38m · 1 min walk
Longfield Avenue Walthamstow (Stop BL)
200m · 3 min walk
Forest Road (Stop BH)
202m · 3 min walk
Pretoria Avenue (Stop BJ)
251m · 4 min walk
Ferry Lane Industrial Estate (Stop BG)
327m · 5 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

99%

Near capacity

1,035 pupils

1,050 capacity

15 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - London

Medium pressure
New homes approved:104,823
Projected new pupils:18,868

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for London

Admissions Demand - Waltham Forest

Low demand0.89x oversubscription

Places available

3,090

Applications

2,739

Got 1st preference

84.6%

Got preferred school

97.2%

Secondary admissions across Waltham Forest (2025/26)

Inspection History(9)

20 January 2026Report card
Achievement
Behaviour
Personal Development
Leadership
5 October 2021
17 November 2020

House Prices

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

8.77115%

Overall absence

28.79079%

Persistent absence

1,042

Enrolments

Authorised4.04792%
Unauthorised4.72322%
Persistent (10%+)28.79079%
Severe (50%+)2.30326%

Absence trend

5.81695%
18/19
5.60916%
20/21
7.76247%
21/22
7.84876%
22/23
7.86279%
23/24
8.77115%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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