SchoolScoresBest primary schools in Darwen
How this list works. Ranked by the percentage of pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, averaged over up to the last three years and weighted by the number of pupils each year. Only years with at least 10 pupils count, and a school needs at least one such year to be ranked. Independent schools, special schools and alternative provision are not ranked because their results aren't comparable. Ofsted outcomes are shown alongside but are not part of the ranking. Full methodology.
| # | School | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Ofsted: Good (2016, before conversion), confirmed 2020 | 69% |
| 2 | Ashleigh Primary School Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2023 | 69% |
| 3 | Avondale Primary School Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 | 68% |
| 4 | Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023 | 67% |
| 5 | Hoddlesden St Paul's CofE Primary School Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) | 65% |
| 6 | Darwen St Peter's CofE Primary School Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 strong, 5 expected | 55% |
| 7 | St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2025 | 53% |
| 8 | St James' CofE Primary School Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) | 51% |
| 9 | Holy Trinity VC School Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) | 46% |
| 10 | Lower Darwen Primary School Ofsted: Good (2023) | 36% |
| 11 | St Stephen's Tockholes CofE Primary School Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 expected, 1 needs attention | 36% |
| 12 | Darwen Aldridge Sudell Primary Ofsted: Report card 2026: 3 expected, 4 needs attention | 34% |
| 13 | St Cuthbert's CofE Primary School Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) | 31% |
| 14 | Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) | 27% |
Result: met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Source: DfE school performance tables to 2025; Ofsted inspection data.
Page updated 26 September 2026.