SchoolScoresAvondale Primary School
Community school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed
Durham Road, Darwen, BB3 1NN
01254 703449 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 5 June 2018.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 19 July 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
58 pupils in this year group.
72% — 9 points above the Blackburn with Darwen average, and 10 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Blackburn with Darwen | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 72% | 63% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 12% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 83% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 76% | 72% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 79% | 77% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 105 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Blackburn with Darwen. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 53 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 52 |
| Of those, offered a place | 52 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 80 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 1.0
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Blackburn with Darwen | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 6th highest of 14 state primary schools in Darwen. Higher than 63% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 27.9% | 26.5%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 11th highest of 14 state primary schools in Darwen. Higher than 50% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.0% | 3.7%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 10th highest of 14 state primary schools in Darwen. Higher than 59% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 15.7% | 16.2%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 8th highest of 14 state primary schools in Darwen. Higher than 37% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.7% | 46.7%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 4th lowest of 14 state primary schools in Darwen. Lower than 74% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.2% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 5th lowest of 14 state primary schools in Darwen. Lower than 68% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 8.8% | 13.9%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 4th lowest of 14 state primary schools in Darwen. Lower than 51% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.0 | 2.2 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 3rd lowest of 14 state primary schools in Darwen. Lower than 66% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.2% | 1.0% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 7th highest of 14 state primary schools in Darwen. Higher than 58% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 21.3 | 21.1 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 7th highest of 14 state primary schools in Darwen. Higher than 40% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.2 | 10.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 10th highest of 13 state primary schools in Darwen. Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 11.4%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- St Cuthbert's CofE Primary School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 38% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016, before conversion), confirmed 2020 · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- Holy Trinity VC School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy 0.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 37% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2025 · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- Darwen Aldridge Sudell Primary 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 3 expected, 4 needs attention · 64% met expected standard (KS2)
- Darwen St Peter's CofE Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 strong, 5 expected · 43% met expected standard (KS2)
- Lower Darwen Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 41% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Stephen's Tockholes CofE Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 expected, 1 needs attention · 10% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ashleigh Primary School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2023 · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Avondale Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Avondale Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 5 June 2018. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 19 July 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Avondale Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 72% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 10 points above the England average of 62%.
Is Avondale Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 52 families put Avondale Primary School as their first choice for 53 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 52 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 119294.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.