Willowfield School
Ofsted
2021
“Pupils enjoy their education at Willowfield School.”
Ofsted 2021
“Pupils do well at school.”
Welcome from the Headteacher
It is my great pleasure to welcome you to our prospectus and introduce you to Willowfield School.
Willowfield school exists to serve children. Children get one chance at education and it is our responsibility and privilege to ensure the educational experience for all children is rich and rewarding. Children come to Willowfield and are given excellent pastoral care, feel happy, are safe, experience an excellent curriculum and leave us ready to embrace their futures. We develop our children as confident, capable, curious and compassionate young people who are eager to embrace change and challenge.
Willowfield is characterised by great relationships, every member of our community is part of the Willowfield family. The school ethos and values are centred on developing our young people as great citizens and this infuses the whole curriculum and learning experience. We have a happy, dedicated, and excellent staff team who work tirelessly for our children. We have strong partnerships with local schools and colleges and are involved in many community projects.
Willowfield is very proud to have been serving our community; educating, and caring for children for over 100 years. We are a happy, oversubscribed and financially secure school doing great work – as was so clearly identified in the October 2021 OFSTED inspection. Such is our popularity that we are expanding over the next few years and have an exciting building project which will provide us with even more exemplary facilities.
Rebecca Linden Headteacher
WILLOWFIELD • 1
“At the end of the Willowfield experience, our students can compete with anyone, anywhere, professionally and personally, in the world that is their future.”
A safe and happy
learning community
Life at Willowfield is characterised by purposeful learning under-pinned by mutual respect. It is an environment where staff and students enjoy happy, harmonious and very productive relationships. This atmosphere is key to our success and stems from the great pastoral support and care every student receives, making them feel valued and nurtured.
“Pupils feel safe at school because teachers look after them.”
Ofsted 2021
2 • WILLOWFIELD
“Pupils’ well-being is a top priority for leaders.”
Ofsted 2021
A great place to
learn and thrive
We have the highest expectations of all students in all areas of their development and will not allow them to settle for ordinary.
Great learning and teaching are at the heart of everything we do at Willowfield. In years 7, 8 and 9, the curriculum is planned to be diverse and inclusive, but also stretches and challenges students, enabling them to grow and develop as curious and confident learners - preparing them for the challenges ahead in Years 10 and 11.
In years 10 and 11, students go onto study subjects related to their areas of strength, interest or possible future career pathways.
The Willowfield curriculum is based upon the fundamental principles of equality, inclusivity, diversity, democracy, and mutual support. Within and across subjects and tutorial time, our curriculum provides students with powerful knowledge, deep understanding, and effective skills to keep them safe and healthy, as well as engender a lifelong love of learning.
Our rich and relevant curriculum develops students as critical thinkers, powerful communicators, and confident, caring and active citizens. It explores cultures and perspectives, within and outside the classroom, on a personal, local, national, and global level. It challenges, supports, and inspires students, igniting their imagination, prompting awe and wonder, and catalysing critical thinking, creativity, and innovation, through collaborative dialogue, experimentation, problem-solving and discovery.
We are proud of the young adults from Willowfield that leave us at the end of year 11. They go on to the next phase of their life into college, work and university as confident and successful young adults.
WILLOWFIELD • 3
“Pupils are given work that helps them to learn and be successful in later life.”
Ofsted 2021
“Much has been done to review and revise the curriculum. As a result, subjects are planned well. They are carefully sequenced and identify the components that pupils need to learn to reach clear end points.” Ofsted 2021
“The support for students with SEND is effective.”
Ofsted 2021
Great citizens and well-rounded
young adults
Enabling our students to achieve the best examination results they will need is key to our work, but not the only purpose of the curriculum and wider school experience. We aim to develop every learner holistically. We are committed to nurturing all our students into thoughtful and active citizens able to play a full part in the 21st century world they will be living and working in.
4 • WILLOWFIELD
“Pupils have opportunities to contribute to the life of the school through the ambassadors’ programme.”
Ofsted 2021
An inclusive, local
We are proud to be a local community school that gives all of our students the best possible start in life. Our school community is amazingly diverse with more than 50 home languages spoken. Our inclusive ethos is characterised by a striking culture of mutual respect and support. Willowfield students are happy, effective learners who make great progress. We have strong partnerships with local schools and colleges and are involved in many community projects.
Students from all backgrounds and all abilities are welcomed and flourish within a safe and caring environment at Willowfield. We use a wide range of information about our young people to plan learning experiences that closely meet their needs and excite them, and we listen to their views on our teaching and their learning, and act on these to continuously improve our provision.
WILLOWFIELD • 5
“What I love most about working at Willowfield is how diverse we are. Being exposed to the different cultures, languages, and customs makes the experience of working here unique and highly rewarding.” Ms Ahmedzai, Subject Leader Ethics
community school
“Ethics and citizenship lessons, and assemblies, teach pupils about the wider world, for example how government works, mental health and eating healthily.”
Ofsted 2021
“Pupils are taught how to stay safe online….. as well as how to avoid the negative effects of social media.”
Ofsted 2021
Great relationships
We expect the very best in terms of courtesy and respect from our students and they rise to meet our high expectations. Life at Willowfield is characterised by calm and purposeful learning, under-pinned by mutual respect. It is an environment where staff and students enjoy happy, harmonious and trusting relationships. This atmosphere is key to our success and stems from the great support and care every student receives, making them feel valued, listened and cared for. We believe a school is about more than just qualifications and that a safe and happy learner is an effective and successful learner.
6 • WILLOWFIELD
“Leaders often go the extra mile to ensure vulnerable pupils benefit from opportunities.”
Ofsted 2021
“Procedures for identifying safeguarding concerns are clear-cut so that issues are dealt with swiftly.”
Ofsted 2021
“Willowfield has a real warm and family atmosphere. I’ve never worked in a school that cares about its young people like this place does. I’ve also learned that this is not by accident, this is part of the culture of our school.”
Mr Morgan, Achievement Leader
Ofsted 2021
WILLOWFIELD • 7
“Pupils behave well… know what is expected and follow the school’s rules. They move around the school calmly and sensibly. The building is clean, tidy and well-kept, a testament to the pride pupils take in their school.”
the classroom Beyond
There is a broad and interesting extra-curricular programme on offer to all students.
Students are encouraged to engage and explore, and our Artsmark Award reflects the range and quality of creative activities they can access. There are many opportunities to take on responsibilities and we have active student leadership team who play a real role in helping shape the direction of the school.
Our partnerships with parents and carers are key to the happiness and success of our students. We value highly the support we receive from our parents and carers, and pride ourselves on the work we do with them to keep their children safe, happy and achieving well.
We celebrate success and ensure that parents and carers are kept informed about their child’s progress throughout their time with us.
Sometimes students need some additional support to flourish and manage themselves effectively and we are committed to working closely with students and their families to develop strategies to help them fulfil their potential, overcoming any challenges to their happiness, learning and progress.
“Pupils welcome the range of after-school clubs... after-school activities, visits, trips and themed weeks.”
8 • WILLOWFIELD
Ofsted 2021
“The careers education programme is comprehensive and provides pupils with independent advice about the next steps in their lives.”
Ofsted 2021
WILLOWFIELD • 9
“At the end of the Willowfield experience, our students can compete with anyone, anywhere, professionally and personally, in the world that is their future.”
209 Blackhorse Road Walthamstow E17 6ND T 020 8527 4065 F 020 8353 4264 E school@willowfield-school.co.uk www.willowfield-school.co.uk