Woodlands Academy of Learning, Willenhall
Woodlands Academy of Learning is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Willenhall. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 4th-highest of the 8 schools in Willenhall with published results, and 4,602nd of 14,452 across England. It was 98% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 75 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Walsall (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 1 Nov 2026
Woodlands Academy of Learning in detail
Woodlands Academy of Learning in its own words
In its own words: "As a whole school community we have formulated the vision statement S.M.I.L.E. This vision contributes to our very special and unique ethos and is embodied in all that we do."
From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to Woodlands Academy of Learning. Every member of the Woodlands family needs to feel happy, secure and confident so that they can flourish in all aspects of their development. Every child is valued and supported by our enthusiastic and talented staff, who work in partnership with our families, to ensure that no child is left behind."
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:30am and after-school care.
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 80% of Year 6 pupils at Woodlands Academy of Learning reached the expected standard in reading and 85% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 74% in Walsall and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 73% in reading and 75% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Woodlands Academy of Learning
For September 2026 entry, 48 families put Woodlands Academy of Learning as their first choice and 93 named it as one of their preferences, for 49 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Woodlands Academy of Learning
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Woodlands Academy of Learning are New Invention Infant School (0.4 miles, Good); New Invention Learning Academy (0.4 miles, 85% reading, 90% maths); Rosedale Church of England C Infant School (0.6 miles, Good); and Short Heath Junior School (0.6 miles, Good, 61% reading, 60% maths).
Woodlands Academy of Learning's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 2 schools.
New Invention Infant SchoolNew Invention Learning AcademyRosedale Church of England C Infant SchoolShort Heath Junior School
Who goes there
9.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (73%), Asian (11%) and Mixed (9%).
In 2026, 65 pupils (14.6%) received SEN support and 13 (2.9%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Bloxwich Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Short Heath Clinic (opposite), 60 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
Woodlands Academy of Learning recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Woodlands Academy of Learning are Willenhall E-ACT Academy (0.6 miles), Bloxwich Academy (0.7 miles), Pool Hayes Academy (0.9 miles) and Coppice Performing Arts School (1 mile).
Willenhall E-ACT AcademyBloxwich AcademyPool Hayes AcademyCoppice Performing Arts School
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; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its March 2023 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
33.2%
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 73% to 80% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 75% to 85% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 82% to 78% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.4
Avg class size
29.2
Infant (KS1)
29.6
KS2
16
Total classes
3 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Woodlands Academy of Learning
Nurseries
The nearest nurseries and pre-schools to Woodlands Academy of Learning, with their latest published grades:
- Charlie Caterpillars Day Nursery - Day nursery, 0.8 milesOfsted, 9 November 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- Happy Hall Preschool - Pre-school, 1.0 milesOfsted, 20 June 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- The Beeches Day Nursery - Day nursery, 1.1 milesOfsted, 26 June 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- Bentley Child Care Services - Day nursery, 1.1 milesOfsted report card, 1 July 2026: Strong standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
- Kangaroo Pouch Day Nursery - Day nursery, 1.2 milesOfsted, 3 March 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Term dates
Woodlands Academy of Learning is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Walsall's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Woodlands Academy of Learning from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Woodlands Academy of Learning is in Walsall; for families living there:
Apply to Walsall for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 6
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 4 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt.
2 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 Walsall is 20.5 (the median across 134 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight are DfT estimates (severity adjustment). Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Woodlands Academy of Learning
Will you get a place at Woodlands Academy of Learning?
For 2026 entry it had 48 first choices for 49 places. The report sets your home postcode against these figures.
£9.99 once (inc. VAT; £19.99 for up to three schools), or Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time. What's in the report
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
98%
Near capacity
412 pupils
420 places
8 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Across Walsall council
Places available
3,855
Applications
3,340
Got 1st preference
93.8%
Got preferred school
98.3%
All primary applications across Walsall council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Future places in the local planning area
DfE estimates the Primary Planning Area 2 planning area (Walsall) will have 427 spare primary places in 2027/28. In the year groups that are short, it estimates 13 additional places needed.
Source: Department for Education, School capacity: Academic year 2024/25 (published 19 March 2026), estimates of future school place demand by planning area. Council pupil forecasts against reported places, counting places councils and DfE plan to add or remove; rounded to whole places. Explore Education Statistics
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
65
SEN Support
13
EHC Plans
17.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
446
Total Pupils
216
Boys
230
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
24
Teachers
18.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,439
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,465
Per pupil
£2597k
Total funding
£208k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.1%
Overall absence
11.8%
Persistent absence
372
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
Woodlands Academy of Learning
Questions parents ask about Woodlands Academy of Learning
What are SATs results like at Woodlands Academy of Learning?
Of the pupils at Woodlands Academy of Learning who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 80% reached the expected standard in reading and 85% did so in maths.
What is Woodlands Academy of Learning's Ofsted rating?
Woodlands Academy of Learning was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2023.
Is it hard to get a place at Woodlands Academy of Learning?
Woodlands Academy of Learning was close to full in 2025, at 98% of its 420 places.
How big are the classes at Woodlands Academy of Learning?
Classes at Woodlands Academy of Learning average 27.4 pupils (2025/26). 3 classes have more than 30 pupils.
How many pupils go to Woodlands Academy of Learning?
Woodlands Academy of Learning has around 446 pupils on roll. 33% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Woodlands Academy of Learning?
5.1% of sessions were missed at Woodlands Academy of Learning in 2024/25. 11.8% of pupils were persistently absent.
How many road collisions happen near Woodlands Academy of Learning?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 4 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt. 2 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 Walsall is 20.5 (the median across 134 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Woodlands Academy of Learning?
Woodlands Academy of Learning is at Bloxwich Road North, Short Heath, Willenhall, West Midlands, WV12 5PR.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)