SchoolScoresIndependent school guide

Willow Tree Primary School

Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class

Part of INCLUSIVE MULTI ACADEMY TRUST

Tolpits Lane, Watford, WD18 6LL

01923 225188 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedRequires improvementInspected 19 April 2023, before conversion
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths33%England 62% · 2024/25
Pupils185Room for 274
First-choice applications per place0.713 for 20 places, September 2026

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Requires improvement at the inspection that started on 19 April 2023. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationRequires improvement
Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementRequires improvement
Early yearsRequires improvement
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25

30 pupils in this year group.

These results were published under the school's previous registration (URN 117290), before it changed to its current form.

33% — 31 points below the Hertfordshire average, and 29 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolHertfordshireEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 33% 64% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 0% 11% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 57% 79% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 57% 73% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 40% 76% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 100 107 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 97 105 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 50%This school 2023/24: 67%This school 2024/25: 33% This school England 62% 2022/23 50% 2023/24 67% 2024/25 33%

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 Hertfordshire. 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 fewer first-choice applications than places.

Places offered20
Families who put it first13
Of those, offered a place13 (100%)
Families who listed it at all51

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.4 · 2026: 0.7

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.

Admissions dates and schools in Hertfordshire

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolHertfordshireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
 32.6% 17.1%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
 4.3% 3.2%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
 13.0% 14.0%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
 52.2% 21.3%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
 6.6% 5.0%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
 14.5% 11.5%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
 14.1 2.9 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
 4.3% 1.3% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.02% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
 30.8 20.2 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
 13.8 10.4 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
 71.8% 15.7%* 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

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Willow Tree Primary School's Ofsted rating?

Willow Tree Primary School was rated Requires improvement by Ofsted at its inspection in 19 April 2023.

How did Willow Tree Primary School do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 33% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 29 points below the England average of 62%.

Is Willow Tree Primary School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 13 families put Willow Tree Primary School as their first choice for 20 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 13 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.