Primary school

Whiston Willis Primary Academy

  • Academy Converter
  • ages 3–11
  • Mixed
  • Knowsley
  • L35 2XY
Ofsted Outstanding · inspected Jan 2024

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 8,241 of 15,057 primaries in England · top 55%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 64%64%2016/17: top 30%2017/18: top 48%2018/19: top 44%2022/23: top 22%2023/24: top 16%16% · 2023/242024/25: top 55%No exams

Against North WestArrows: North West rank change since 2018/19

Expected standard, RWM63% · North West 63%5/10 Middle−8.4 pts
Higher standard, RWM2% · North West 6%2/10 Well below North West−57.9 pts
Reading score104 · North West 1053/10 Below−55.1 pts
Maths score103 · North West 1053/10 Below
Show KS2 results by year

No exams 2019/20–21Not published 2021/22

Expected standard, RWM
2015/16: 49% · 39 pupils · North West 55%2016/17: 72% · 39 pupils · North West 64%2017/18: 68% · 40 pupils · North West 68%2018/19: 69% · 39 pupils · North West 67%2022/23: 73% · 41 pupils · North West 61%2023/24: 77% · 43 pupils · North West 63%2024/25: 63% · 46 pupils · North West 63%77%49%No exams
Higher standard, RWM
2015/16: 3% · 39 pupils · North West 3%2016/17: 5% · 39 pupils · North West 7%2017/18: 8% · 40 pupils · North West 8%2018/19: 15% · 39 pupils · North West 9%2022/23: 5% · 41 pupils · North West 6%2023/24: 12% · 43 pupils · North West 5%2024/25: 2% · 46 pupils · North West 6%15%2%No exams
Reading score
2015/16: 98 · 39 pupils · North West 1022016/17: 106 · 39 pupils · North West 1042017/18: 106 · 40 pupils · North West 1052018/19: 107 · 39 pupils · North West 1042022/23: 107 · 41 pupils · North West 1052023/24: 105 · 43 pupils · North West 1052024/25: 104 · 46 pupils · North West 10510798No exams
Maths score
2015/16: 103 · 39 pupils · North West 1032016/17: 103 · 39 pupils · North West 1042017/18: 102 · 40 pupils · North West 1052018/19: 104 · 39 pupils · North West 1052022/23: 103 · 41 pupils · North West 1042023/24: 103 · 43 pupils · North West 1042024/25: 103 · 46 pupils · North West 105104102No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in94.4%
51 of 54 who put it first2014 · 93.0%2026 · 94.4%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st5451
2nd566
3rd282

Last distance offered: London only

Inspections · 2008–2024

  1. 2008Goodas predecessor
  2. 2013Goodas predecessor
  3. 2022Remains Good
  4. 2024Outstanding

5 strong areas

  • Personal development
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Early years provision
  • Effectiveness of leadership and management

0 weak areas

5 areas graded · safeguarding effective

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 2026419
Free school meals (past 6 years)41.7%
First language not English6.1%
SEN support21.0%
EHC plan4.3%
Absence (sessions missed)6.3%
Persistently absent pupils20.3%

Girls 47.8%Boys 52.2%

118.7% full · 353 places

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 2 Sep 2024 · 52 responses (14.4% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school96.2% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school98.1% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved98.1% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 73.1% not applicable85.7% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year90.4% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 23.1% not applicable92.5% agree
  • My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed71.4% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child94.2% agree
  • My child does well at this school98.1% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing88.5% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school92.3% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school98.1% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development88.5% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent96.2% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher21.3
Pupils per adult12.2
  • Classroom teachers 16.3
  • Leadership 3
  • Teaching assistants 14.4
  • Other support 4.7

Teachers 19.3 FTE · Whole workforce 38.4 · 52 people

Financials · 2024/25

Income per pupil£6,697
Spend per pupil£6,157
Staff spend per pupil£4,936
Reserve per pupil£349
  • +£133,000revenue reserve
  • +£206,000in-year balance

Grants £6,556 · self-generated £189 · premises £359 per pupil

Multi-academy trust: WADE DEACON TRUST (9 academies) · trust reserve £5,297,000 · Reserves in a multi-academy trust belong to the trust; this academy's figures include the share of central costs the trust gives it