In its report, Estyn recognised a number of key highlights including;

• Vision and Values: Willows High School fosters a culture where pupils "belong, believe, and achieve." This vision is reflected in the strong relationships between pupils and staff and the high expectations for engagement and behaviour.
• Positive Ethos: The school's inclusive environment ensures that staff, pupils, parents, and visitors feel welcome. A strong safeguarding culture contributes to a sense of safety among most pupils.
• Attendance Success: Clear strategies for monitoring and supporting attendance have resulted in improved rates, particularly among pupils eligible for free school meals.
• Diverse Curriculum: The school's curriculum emphasizes understanding diversity and other cultures. Efforts to enhance reading skills have shown positive outcomes, with pupils generally making good progress across subjects.

Headteacher Chris Norman said: "The team at Willows is proud to share the report of our inspection in which celebrates the positive changes that have been brought about by the whole community, pulling together to improve the life chances of our pupils. I thank the staff, pupils, parents, Governors and community members who have worked so hard to make these improvements possible."

James Ellis, Chair of Governors added: "The report reflects the positive learning environment that we have at Willows, where the school's values are real and lived. Willows High School has been on a journey of improvement, realised in this report and seen through the hard work of everyone, our teachers, pupils, and support staff."

The report celebrates many aspects of the school and to continue its journey of improvement, Estyn has made three recommendations for improvement which the school will address in its action plan:

• Ensure that teaching consistently challenges pupils to make strong progress and develop their skills well.
• Ensure that self-evaluation processes are precise and focus on impact and that all leaders use these processes effectively to plan for and secure improvement.
• Increase the number of pupils who complete a Welsh language GCSE qualification and improve pupils' Welsh language speaking skills

Work is underway to build a brand-new Willows High School. The £60m development will see the school rebuilt and relocated to accommodate 900 learners in addition to a 30 place Special Resource Base for pupils with Complex Learning Needs. It will provide excellent quality education environments to support and enhance teaching and learning.Expected completion in the 2026/27 academic year, the new school will providecomprehensive sports facilities including sports hall, gym, drama studio and grass pitches which will be available for public use outside of school hours.

Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Sarah Merry said: "Willows High School should be proud of the positive feedback from Estyn which recognises the hard work of staff and the enthusiasm of pupils. It was particularly pleasing to hear of the significant improvement in attendance which has been achieved though the schools monitoring and support, and that this continues to improve well.

"The school is embarking on an exciting new chapter and once complete, the new school will offer outstanding educational resources, expertise, and teaching opportunities for pupils and staff, fit for 21^stcentury learning.

"This together with the encouraging remarks from Estyn, paves the way for a successful and bright future for the school."

At the time of inspection, Willows High School had 808 pupils on roll. 54.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, 8% of pupils identify as having additional learning needs and 14.7% of pupils have English as an additional language.