Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy
Primary · Academy converter · Ages 3–11 · Darwen, Blackburn with Darwen
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.
Open on the map Unlock with a pass · £9.99
Key facts
- Address
- St James Crescent, Darwen, BB3 0EY
- Type
- Academy converter
- Phase
- Primary
- Ages
- 3–11
- Sector
- See recorded establishment type
- 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.
Last distance offered and catchment
A one-off £9.99 pass, no subscription, unlocks for 3 months:
- Last distance offered for Reception 2026, as Blackburn with Darwen published it, drawn on the map
- Earlier years of applications and offers
- Earlier years of exam results
- Which schools pupils move on to or come from
- Crime, sold prices, broadband and transport around the school
A last distance offered describes one past year and is not a catchment or a promise of a place. Check with the council before you apply.
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