Editing Willows High School (section)

== History ==
The school site is extensive and dates from the late 1960s, and was built on the site of the World War II airfield [[RAF Pengam Moors]]. The school is named after the air balloon pioneer [[Ernest Willows]] who had his airfield on the site.

Many of the buildings have since been modernised.<ref name="Estyn 2006">{{cite web| url=http://www.estyn.gov.uk/inspection_reports/Willows_High_School_2006.pdf| title=Report: Willows High School Inspection: 9 October 2006| date=11 December 2006| publisher=Estyn}}</ref> There are plans to continue this modernisation in the future, including with a [[Private finance initiative|PFI]] agreement as part of plans by [[Cardiff Council]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Seabrook|first=Alex|date=2020-07-13|title=Two Cardiff schools could get new buildings funded by private investors|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/education/two-high-schools-cardiff-could-18577831|access-date=2020-07-30|website=walesonline}}</ref> A completely new building is planned,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Discombe|first=Matt|date=2018-08-01|title=Willows High School hopes to move into new building 'within three years'|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/education/cardiffs-willows-high-school-hopes-14977295|access-date=2020-07-30|website=walesonline}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Wightwick|first=Abbie|date=2018-12-18|title=The latest plans to rebuild Cardiff secondary schools|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/education/latest-plans-rebuild-expand-cardiff-15567523|access-date=2020-07-30|website=walesonline}}</ref> which could be located in nearby Tremorfa Park.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wightwick|first=Abbie|date=2019-05-17|title=Cardiff park to be built on in plans for new school|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/st-albans-school-cardiff-willows-16291342|access-date=2020-07-30|website=walesonline}}</ref> The site proposed originally included St. Alban's Primary School, which was slated to close.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Discombe|first=Matt|date=2019-07-29|title=Fear over future of Catholic education in Cardiff if primary school closes|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/fear-beginning-end-catholic-education-16585289|access-date=2020-07-30|website=walesonline}}</ref> However, in 2019 the closure was successfully petitioned, and stopped in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wightwick|first=Abbie|date=2019-12-27|title=Victory for parents as Catholic primary school is saved from closure|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/education/victory-parents-catholic-primary-school-17479029|access-date=2020-07-30|website=walesonline}}</ref>

The school featured in the 2015 Channel 4 documentary series ''[[Educating Cardiff]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2014-12-09|title=Cardiff school filmed for TV series|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-30400635|access-date=2020-07-30}}</ref> This detailed every aspect of school life, and also highlighted many of the improvements the school has made in recent years.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Evans|first=Gareth|date=2015-06-14|title=Hope that Educating Cardiff will change perceptions of Cardiff school|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/we-hope-educating-cardiff-change-9451653|access-date=2020-07-30|website=walesonline}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Wightman|first=Catriona|date=2015-08-25|title=Educating Cardiff: Why Willows High is different|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a664860/educating-cardiff-why-willows-high-is-different-from-the-schools-weve-seen-before/|access-date=2020-07-30|website=Digital Spy|language=en-GB}}</ref>

Starting in 2015, Willows participated in the South Wales Challenge (SWC) Initiative, sharing best-practice in education with [[Tonyrefail School]], [[Rhondda Cynon Taf]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Evans|first=Gareth|date=2015-01-19|title=How two South Wales schools are working together to raise standards|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/how-two-south-wales-comprehensive-8476604|access-date=2020-07-30|website=walesonline}}</ref> This aimed to help the school to improve academic standards further.