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The Willows Primary School Catchment Area

Reviewed by the catchment.school editorial team · Last updated 15 March 2026

The Willows Primary School is an academy converter primary school in Manchester , serving pupils aged 3-11, with 429 pupils, and a capacity of 423 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.

3-11

Age range

429

Pupils

423

Capacity

101%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2022

The Willows Primary School Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for The Willows Primary School?

The catchment area for The Willows Primary School is the geographic zone Manchester uses to prioritise admissions when this primary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Manchester publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

As an academy, The Willows Primary School sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Manchester. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.

Currently oversubscribed: 429 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 423 places. Living within the catchment area is especially important for this school.

Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →

Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Manchester publishes the 2027 The Willows Primary School numbers →

The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Manchester before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.

Find Manchester catchment area documents →

The Willows Primary School: at or above its 423 place limit

The Willows Primary School has a published admission number of 423 places. 429 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 101%. The school is at or above its published limit of 423 places. Manchester allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. The last-distance figure is likely to remain tight if demand holds at this level.

The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 57.1% of pupils at The Willows Primary School are eligible for free school meals, above the national average of around 24%. This reflects the school's role in a higher-deprivation area of Manchester.

To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.

Manchester publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Find Manchester school admissions →

The Willows Primary School: School Information

Full address
Tayfield Road, Woodhouse Park, Manchester, M22 1BQ
Local authority
Manchester
School type
Academy converter
Phase of education
Primary
Age range
3-11 years
Free school meals
57.1% of pupils
DfE URN
139438

Other Primary Schools in Manchester

If The Willows Primary School is oversubscribed, these primary schools in Manchester are the next closest alternatives.

Nearest primary schools by distance

These are the primary schools closest to The Willows Primary School by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.

Frequently Asked Questions: The Willows Primary School

What is the catchment area for The Willows Primary School?

The catchment area for The Willows Primary School is the geographic zone Manchester uses to prioritise admissions when this primary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Manchester publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Is The Willows Primary School oversubscribed?

Yes, The Willows Primary School currently has 429 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 423 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.

What is the admissions policy for The Willows Primary School?

Admission to The Willows Primary School is managed by Manchester. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.

What age range does The Willows Primary School cover?

The Willows Primary School is a primary school in Manchester, serving pupils aged 3-11. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

What is the Ofsted rating for The Willows Primary School?

The Willows Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2022. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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