Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy
Primary · Academy converter · Ages 3–11 · Darwen, Blackburn with Darwen
Last distance offered · Reception 2026
Every applicant was offered a place
From Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council · offers on 16 April 2026
Nearby schools' earlier years 🔒
Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy is a primary school in Darwen, Blackburn with Darwen for ages 3–11 (academy converter). Its latest Ofsted outcome is Not judged, from the inspection on 9 July 2025. Blackburn with Darwen has published a last distance offered for this school for Reception 2026 entry.
Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy catchment area: last distance offered
Parents often call this the catchment area: it's how far from the school the last child offered a place lived. It changes every year.
| Entry | Last distance offered |
|---|---|
| Reception 2026 | Every applicant was offered a place |
What the pass includes · How to read it: one past year, not a catchment
What the figures show
- In Reception 2026 every applicant was offered a place, as at 29 of the 43 other Blackburn with Darwen primary schools with a published Reception 2026 outcome.
- For Reception 2026 there were 28 first-choice applications for 29 offers; every first-choice family was offered a place and 1 offer went to a family who ranked it second or lower.
- In 2024/25, 37% met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (England 62%), lowest of 9 schools: this one and the 8 nearest primary schools in Blackburn with Darwen.
- The latest Ofsted visit, on 9 July 2025, was not judged; the previous graded outcome was Inadequate on 22 February 2023.
Worked out by Catchmently from the published figures on this page and those for other Blackburn with Darwen schools. Distances are as published; how they were measured differs between admission authorities.
Key facts
- Address
- St James Crescent, Darwen, BB3 0EY
- Type
- Academy converter
- Phase
- Primary
- Ages
- 3–11
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Council
- Blackburn with Darwen
- Pupils on roll
- 203 January 2026 school census
- Free school meals
- 34% of pupils eligible
- Pupils per teacher
- 20.1
Official record: Get Information about Schools · as at 15 September 2026
Ofsted
Not judged Inspected 9 July 2025
Strengths
- “Pupils are proud to attend this school.”
- “They enjoy positive relationships with their friends and staff.”
- “Peer mediators support pupils to enjoy positive breaktimes.”
To improve
- “Nevertheless, many of the improved curriculums are in the early stages of being taught.”
- “Pupils in key stages 1 and 2 have gaps in their knowledge, which are sometimes not identified or addressed swiftly enough.”
- “In addition, some pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) do not receive the support that they need to succeed.”
Safeguarding: Effective
Quoted from the Ofsted report published 16 September 2025 (read the report). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.
Exam results
| Measure | School | England |
|---|---|---|
| Key stage 2 · reading, writing and maths, expected standard (2024/25) | 37% | 62% |
Department for Education school performance data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Applications and offers
- 2026 Reception entry: 28 first-preference applications, 29 offers in total, 28 offers to first-preference applicants.
Department for Education, school-level applications and offers, figures on national offer day. Earlier years are in the pass.
Nearby primary schools
Straight-line distance, in Blackburn with Darwen.
- Darwen Aldridge Sudell Primary 0.4 mi No Ofsted grade Last distance published
- Holy Trinity VC School 0.5 mi Not judged Last distance published
- Avondale Primary School 0.7 mi School remains Good Last distance published
- Darwen St Peter's Church of England Primary School 0.7 mi No Ofsted grade Last distance published
- St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen 0.9 mi Standards maintained Last distance published
- St Cuthbert's Church of England Primary School 0.9 mi Requires improvement Last distance published
- St Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy 1.0 mi No Ofsted grade
- Lower Darwen Primary School 1.3 mi Good Last distance published