Willows Primary Academy, Lichfield

Ofsted's report card from its 3 February 2026 inspection grades Willows Primary Academy on 7 areas: 3 strong standard and 4 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders place inclusion at the centre of the school's work."

Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders demonstrate a detailed and accurate understanding of the school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Personal development is a strength of the school."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils achieve exceptionally well in reading, writing and mathematics."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have effective systems in place to track and analyse attendance."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have a detailed understanding of the quality of the curriculum and teaching."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children get off to a positive start in the early years."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should refine the implementation of wider curriculum subjects to ensure that all pupils develop a deeper understanding across the entire curriculum"; "Leaders should continue the sharp focus on developing fine motor skills, leading to improved writing outcomes at the end of Reception Year".

In its own words: "Our wish is for Willows children, regardless of their background, abilities or individual needs, to be aspirational in all aspects of their lives, both now and in the future."

From the headteacher's welcome: "It is a real privilege to introduce myself as the new Headteacher of Willows. I am delighted to be joining such a welcoming school and look forward to getting to know our wonderful children, families, staff and wider community over the coming days, weeks and months. At Willows, we believe that every child matters."

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:30am and after-school care.

Coming up: an open day on Monday 21 June 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

Willows Primary Academy has no published results of its own yet. Before it took its current form in 2024, as Willows Primary School (URN 124161), 91% of its Year 6 pupils reached the expected standard in reading and 91% in maths in the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments.

For September 2026 entry, 43 families put Willows Primary Academy as their first choice and 71 named it as one of their preferences, for 45 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Willows Primary Academy are SS Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School (0.2 miles); SS Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School (0.2 miles, Good, 65% reading, 75% maths); Chadsmead Primary Academy (0.3 miles, Good, 78% reading, 72% maths); and Charnwood Primary Academy (0.3 miles, Good, 87% reading, 80% maths).

Willows Primary Academy is one of 7 schools run by Future Generation Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 69% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

75 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Willows Primary Academy (as of April 2026): 89% would recommend the school, 92% say their child is happy there and 30% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (92%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (30%).

36.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 11.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (78%), Mixed (9%) and Chinese (5%).

In 2026, 65 pupils (15.4%) received SEN support and 12 (2.8%) 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 a moderate learning difficulty.

The nearest railway station is Lichfield City Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.

14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Anglesey Road (adjacent), 30 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Willows Primary 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 205 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Staffordshire (86), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Willows Primary Academy issued 5 suspensions, 1.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Willows Primary Academy are Nether Stowe School (0.4 miles), The Friary School (0.8 miles) and King Edward VI School (1.3 miles).