SchoolScoresDarwen Aldridge Sudell Primary
Academy · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed
Part of ALDRIDGE EDUCATION
Ellison Fold Terrace, Darwen, BB3 3EB
01254 703440 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 17 March 2026 , published 4 May 2026.
In short: 3 expected, 4 needs attention, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Early yearsNursery and reception classes. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
20 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
Blackburn with Darwen comparisons use the 4 of its 56 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 52 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Blackburn with Darwen | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 4th highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Blackburn with Darwen. Higher than 39% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 90% | 99% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school 4th highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Blackburn with Darwen. Higher than 35% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 90% | 99% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 4th highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Blackburn with Darwen. Higher than 44% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 85% | 95% | 78% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 19 parents who had raised a concern 4th highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Blackburn with Darwen. Higher than 40% of 1,062 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 79% | 90% | 74% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 4th highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Blackburn with Darwen. Higher than 29% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 85%said yes | 97% | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 13%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Blackburn with Darwen figures pool parents at the Blackburn with Darwen schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
22 pupils in this year group.
64% — about the same as the Blackburn with Darwen average, and 2 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Blackburn with Darwen | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 64% | 63% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 68% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 64% | 72% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 82% | 77% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 103 | 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 | 29 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 28 |
| Of those, offered a place | 28 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 48 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 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 3rd highest of 14 state primary schools in Darwen. Higher than 86% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 45.6% | 26.5%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 9th highest of 14 state primary schools in Darwen. Higher than 53% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.1% | 3.7%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 8th highest of 14 state primary schools in Darwen. Higher than 63% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 16.3% | 16.2%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 2nd highest of 14 state primary schools in Darwen. Higher than 77% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 29.4% | 46.7%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 14th lowest of 14 state primary schools in Darwen. Lower than 4% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 7.9% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 13th lowest of 14 state primary schools in Darwen. Lower than 1% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 31.3% | 13.9%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 6th lowest of 14 state primary schools in Darwen. Lower than 31% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.5 | 2.2 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 7th lowest of 14 state primary schools in Darwen. Lower than 21% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.9% | 1.0% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 9th highest of 14 state primary schools in Darwen. Higher than 53% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 20.9 | 21.1 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 11th highest of 14 state primary schools in Darwen. Higher than 28% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 9.5 | 10.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 7th highest of 13 state primary schools in Darwen. Higher than 50% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 12.5% | 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
- Darwen St Peter's CofE Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 strong, 5 expected · 43% met expected standard (KS2)
- Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy 0.4 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 37% met expected standard (KS2)
- Holy Trinity VC School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2025 · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hoddlesden St Paul's CofE Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 41% met expected standard (KS2)
- Avondale Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ashleigh Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2023 · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
- Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023 · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Cuthbert's CofE Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 38% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016, before conversion), confirmed 2020 · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Darwen Aldridge Sudell Primary's Ofsted rating?
Darwen Aldridge Sudell Primary was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 17 March 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 3 expected, 4 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.
How did Darwen Aldridge Sudell Primary do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 64% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 2 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Darwen Aldridge Sudell Primary?
85% of the 20 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Darwen Aldridge Sudell Primary to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Darwen Aldridge Sudell Primary oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 28 families put Darwen Aldridge Sudell Primary as their first choice for 29 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 28 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 141838.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 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.