Willowbrook School is a mainstream primary school in Exeter, Devon, for children aged 3 to 11. In January 2026, 80 of its 432 pupils (18.5%) were getting SEN support and 37 (8.6%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 3–11
- 432 pupils
- Ofsted: Requires improvement
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Devon.
18.5% get SEN support
80 of 432 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
8.6% have an EHC plan
37 of 432 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication54
- Social, emotional and mental health27
- Autism10
- Moderate learning difficulty10
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia10
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream primary school
- Run as
- Academy (sponsored)
- Ages
- 3 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 432 (places for 420)
- Headteacher
- Mr Chris Greenhall
- Part of
- The Harbour Schools Partnership
- Free school meals
- 36.5% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Devon
- School reference (URN)
- 150856
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Devon council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Requires improvement, June 2022
Rated Requires improvement at its last graded inspection, in June 2022.
- Quality of educationRequires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementRequires improvement
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Summer Lane, Beacon Heath, Exeter, EX4 8NN
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
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The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Vranch House School Independent · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.3 miles
- St Luke's Church of England School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.8 miles
- Ellen Tinkham School Special school · Ages 3–19 · Ofsted: Good 1.0 mile
- Wynstream Primary School Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.8 miles
Other mainstream schools
Questions about Willowbrook School
How many pupils at Willowbrook School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 80 of the 432 pupils (18.5%) were getting SEN support and 37 (8.6%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Willowbrook School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (54 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (27 pupils) and autism (10 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Willowbrook School?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Willowbrook School?
Through Devon council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Willowbrook School?
You can ask for Willowbrook School to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Willowbrook School have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is St Luke's Church of England School, about 0.8 miles away.
Where is Willowbrook School?
Summer Lane, Beacon Heath, Exeter, EX4 8NN, in Devon.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.