SchoolScoresWillow Brook Primary School and Nursery
Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of THE KEMNAL ACADEMIES TRUST
Barnardiston Road, Colchester, CO4 0DT
01206 864375 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 29 November 2022.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
30 pupils in this year group.
50% — 13 points below the Essex average, and 12 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 50% | 63% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 10% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 80% | 77% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 53% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 77% | 76% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 105 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Essex. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 9 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 9 |
| Of those, offered a place | 9 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 21 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 7th highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 79% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 38.5% | 21.7%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 31st highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 45% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.8% | 2.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 32nd highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 55% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 15.0% | 13.9%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 1st highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 84% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 37.8% | 12.2%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 71st lowest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Lower than 5% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 7.7% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 69th lowest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Lower than 10% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 21.6% | 13.0%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 68th lowest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Lower than 3% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 14.4 | 3.3 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 73rd lowest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Lower than 1% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 7.2% | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 0.56% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 68th highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 15% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 16.8 | 21.9 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 35th highest of 73 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 67% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.7 | 11.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 5th highest of 71 state primary schools in Colchester. Higher than 96% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 39.3% | 13.5%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- Friars Grove Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 59% met expected standard (KS2)
- Parsons Heath CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 47% met expected standard (KS2)
- Roach Vale Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- St James the Great CofE Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2025 · 48% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hazelmere Junior School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 38% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hazelmere Infant School and Nursery 0.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
- Unity Primary Academy 0.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- St John's CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Colchester 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2022 · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 93% met expected standard (KS2)
- Highwoods Community Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed, may be improving 2024 · 78% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Willow Brook Primary School and Nursery's Ofsted rating?
Willow Brook Primary School and Nursery was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 29 November 2022.
How did Willow Brook Primary School and Nursery do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 50% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 12 points below the England average of 62%.
Is Willow Brook Primary School and Nursery oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 9 families put Willow Brook Primary School and Nursery as their first choice for 9 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 9 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 141195.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.