Willow International School

Amazing school. Great atmosphere, all of the students have an outstanding attitude towards the school and their work ethic is outstanding. All of the staff are great, very kind , polite and professional. I would recommend booking a visit if your child needs to be at school!!!

****EDIT DUE TO RESPONSE**** HAVING HAD YOUR RESPONSE AND SEEING AS HOW YOU’VE CLEARLY BOMBARDED PEOPLE WITH REQUESTS TO PUT «GOOD REVIEWS» SINCE MY HONEST REVIEW, I FEEL I NEED TO BE MORE CLEAR. THERE’S NOTHING «DEROGATORY» ABOUT MY REVIEW. YOU RECENTLY REMOVED A CHILD FROM THE SCHOOL BECAUSE YOU HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE PARENTS CONCERNING ANOTHER CHILD OF THEIRS. THIS IS HIGHLY UNPROFESSIONAL AND THAT CHILD WAS REMOVED FROM EDUCATION THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN. AND WHILST WE’RE TALKING ABOUT BEING UNPROFESSIONAL, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE DENUNCIAS IN DOUBLE FIGURES (SOMETHING WHICH YOU HAVE NOT DENIED IN YOUR RESPONSE). NOT ONLY THAT, BUT A CHILD WAS JUST GROUNDED BY THEIR PARENT FOR RECEIVING A BAD REPORT….BUT THE CHILDS NAME WAS PUT ON THE WRONG REPORT AND SENT OUT!! AND YOU QUITE CLEARLY NEED TO LOWER YOUR VOICE WHEN SPEAKING TO MRS NORRIS. ESPECIALLY WHEN A CHILD HEARS YOU SAY «OH MY GOD….MORE ARE LEAVING…..WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?». I HAVE MORE INFO BUT I REALLY DON’T HAVE THE TIME TO PUT EVERYTHING. BUT IF YOU WISH TO CARRY ON THIS PUBLIC SPAT WHEN SOMEONE IS JUST TRYING TO WARN PARENTS WITH REGARDS TO THE EDUCATION OF THEIR CHILDREN THEN BE MY GUEST. YOU MAY PULL THE WOOL OVER A LOT OF PARENTS EYES THERE….BUT NOT HERE. I have withheld from giving a review on this school for some time but feel I now have no choice due to the fact that it is so bad and I’m genuinely concerned for other children/parents who are thinking of attending here. In my opinion, this school should not be operating and I’m surprised it still is. It is horrendously run by the owner/head teacher. This is evident in the pupil/staff turnover but if you ask them for a reason, it’s NEVER their fault (the owner citing their own personal problems is highly unprofessional). There have been denuncias and court cases against the school by it’s own members of staff. Some staff are also teaching subjects that they’re not qualified to do. When cover teachers are telling children to read from their books on a daily basis, this is NOT education. Children need stability in a learning environment and they do NOT get it here. Of the SIX google reviews that this school has…..THREE of them have been submitted by the staff of the school! I so wanted this school to work for my child but in my opinion they lost time from their education and if I’d have had my way, I’d have asked for a refund on the fees due to the fact that that I didn’t get what I paid for. If you are only concerned about your child/children «seeing through» their days in education then by all means let them attend here if it’s conveniently local (though how long they’ll be here before it closes I cannot say). But if you’re genuinely concerned about your child’s education I would give it a VERY wide berth. Especially as you will be PAYING for the privilege! If I can steer just ONE child away from here I will feel I have done my job. Take of this review what you will. But DON’T say you haven’t been warned. Do your homework and do NOT take the school at face value.

My grandson has been at willow since it opened he has learning issues and always enjoyed his time at willow. From my point of view i have always found the staff approachable, Professional in dealing with any issues myself or my grandson have. I think the school and teaching staff do an amazing job and the children all look very happy when going in every morning. If my child is happy going to this school then that makes me happy i choose Willow .

In life we rarely come across places or people that have such a major impact on us , one that affects an entire family. Over the course of the last 4 years my child has been subject to the very best quality education, by some of the most experienced individuals I have encountered. My daughter has went from being a child with zero confidence, unable to correctly read and write but also whom had trouble communicating emotions to all around her. Without a doubt ,had I not enrolled her in Willow International School and without the dedication of Amanda Riding and her amazing team we would not be en route to passing GCSE. My daughter , my husband and I shall be forever grateful for the continued and never faltering support. I can not recommend Willow International School highly enough.

Our daughter has attended Willow International Academy ever since it opened its doors back in September 2020, and will shortly be sitting her GCSE examinations. I have absolutely nothing but praise for the high standards achieved throughout this period. The head teacher and all of the staff have always been very approachable and open-minded, and provide excellent levels of help and support to both students and parents at all times. Communication has been a key element in this success. Having previously spent two frustrating years in a different local international school which offered very little support and questionable standards, I can unreservedly recommend Willow International Academy to anyone in the area who is looking to place their child in a UK curriculum based education here in Spain.

We moved over 3 three years ago with a primary and secondary aged pupil and it was paramount that we found the right school for both of them. Having visited a number (and almost losing hope of what we and they wanted), we came across Willow International. From the moment we walked in it immediately felt right and that was just from the first impression. We couldn’t get over how polite and welcoming that not only the staff were but also all the children. What stood out was their fresh innovative style of teaching, it was engaging, fun and refreshing to see with even a class participating in an activity outdoors. The head and all of the teachers have been nothing but extraordinary in helping one of my children who had very bad experiences in his school in the uk. They continue to help and support my younger child’s needs and I’ve finally found a school that ACTUALLY CARES about the pupil. My older child is thriving with the best grades and actually enjoys getting up and going to school. Again this is due to the continuous support and help gained from the school and teachers through the past three years. I cannot recommend this school enough if you want a caring, supportive school that gets its very best out of its pupils.

My granddaughter has attended Willow from the day it opened. These last 3 years we’ve seen her grow from an insecure, misunderstood child who received no help or guidance from the local school into a confident, well educated young woman, who now knows her own mind and the path she intends to follow. Willow has shown her the respect and understanding she craved and given her the wings to fly as high as she can. I cannot thank them enough.

I felt compelled to write this as I just read a scathing review by someone else. and am shocked! We’ve had no issues to report – just smooth sailing in a welcoming environment at Willow! It’s got me thinking, that maybe the issue that someone else is complaining about isn’t about the school or the staff but perhaps that person’s kids and the parent as well?! Willow for us is like a happy bubble and everyone’s on the same wavelength of positivity. If you’re looking for a place where your kids will come home with smiles, this is the real deal. It’s been an amazing journey so far for our son. If he’s happy AND LEARNING…and he is…then we are happy…and we are!

My daughter has attended the Willow since the 1st day it opened it doors and is still there now. It is an amazing school with a fantastic caring attitude towards the children. Some schools are just «schools» others like the Willow actually care about the individuals, and create a fantastic attitude towards growth and learning. My daughter has grown so much in confidence over these past years at the Willow, and it’s all thanks to the Willow Team.

I am pleased to share our positive experience with Willow where both of our children are currently enrolled. Despite facing unforeseen challenges that were out of their control, the school has proven to be resilient and committed to providing a nurturing and high-quality education. One of the challenges the school has faced recently is the departure of several teachers, a situation exacerbated by the complexities of recruiting new staff due to the visa issues brought on by Brexit. We appreciate the transparency and the two-way street approach to communication at Willow. In instances where we have had concerns arise (and we have), the school encouraged parents to schedule a meeting and we have engaged in constructive conversations with the Head teacher. In complete contrast to a previous comment, we have found the Head teacher to be approachable, dedicated, and genuinely passionate about the well-being and education of the students. It is evident that running this school is a dream come true for her. Unfortunately, some former teachers (who were not preforming at their best) have chosen to start gossip and have used questionable tactics to persuade other parents (like us!) to remove their children from the school. It is important to note that we do not appreciate being contacted by ex-staff who have a grudge to bare, who left because their teaching standards falling short. (note: We know this to be the case because our kids told us what was happening in their classes!) Willow places a strong emphasis on providing a high-quality education, and it is disheartening to see former staff members attempting to influence others negatively. I’m aware other staff members have left due to their personal circumstances changing and we can’t control this…no one can! We moved our children from a school in the UK with hugely concerning safety issues (kids carrying weapons, stabbings, fights, teachers being physically and mentally disrepected and we didn’t live in a city in the UK where this is expected!) Willow has been a breath of fresh air. Our children have thrived in an environment that fosters respect, safety, and effective learning. The school has always addressed any concerns we raised promptly and professionally, showing a genuine commitment to the well-being of our kids. While challenges may arise, it is clear that the school is focused on maintaining its standards and ensuring the best for its students. We are grateful for the positive experience and the opportunity for our children to receive a quality education in such a supportive and nurturing setting. We can only wish for a speedier process for recruiting teachers…which isn’t down to Willow…it’s down to the Spanish Government.

Fabulous international school near Cuidad Quesada ❤️

We love this school

Amazing school!