SchoolScoresSt Barnabas and St Paul's CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England
Oakenhurst Road, Blackburn, BB2 1SN
01254 698413 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 2 July 2024.
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 |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
17 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025.
Blackburn comparisons use the 26 of its 54 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 28 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 | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 13th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Blackburn. Higher than 41% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 94% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 1st highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Blackburn. Higher than 80% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 94% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 14th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Blackburn. Higher than 62% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 92% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 15 parents who had raised a concern 15th highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Blackburn. Higher than 39% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 80% | 78% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 11th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Blackburn. Higher than 62% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94%said yes | 88% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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 figures pool parents at the Blackburn 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. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
60 pupils in this year group.
70% — 7 points above the Blackburn with Darwen average, and 8 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Blackburn with Darwen | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 70% | 63% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 7% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 82% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 80% | 72% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 85% | 77% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 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 | 60 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 54 |
| Of those, offered a place | 50 (93%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 125 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.9
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.
This is a Church of England school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Blackburn with Darwen | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 17th highest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Higher than 69% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 32.1% | 26.5%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 7th highest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Higher than 80% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.0% | 3.7%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 8th highest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Higher than 91% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 23.8% | 16.2%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 9th highest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Higher than 100% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 94.5% | 46.7%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 7th lowest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Lower than 87% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.7% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 11th lowest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Lower than 79% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 7.0% | 13.9%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 26th lowest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Lower than 62% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.5 | 2.2 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 28th lowest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Lower than 58% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.5% | 1.0% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 42nd highest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Higher than 34% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 19.2 | 21.1 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 50th highest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Higher than 10% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 8.0 | 10.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 17th highest of 53 state primary schools in Blackburn. Higher than 54% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 13.5% | 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
- St Anne's Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 expected, 1 needs attention · 59% met expected standard (KS2)
- Queen Elizabeth's Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected · 45% met expected standard (KS2)
- Dar Ul Madinah 0.4 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2025)
- St Luke and St Philips CofE Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 46% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Silas's CofE Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 59% met expected standard (KS2)
- Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 1 strong, 6 expected · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Wensley Fold CofE Primary Academy 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 83% met expected standard (KS2)
- Griffin Park Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 75% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Michael With St John CofE Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2022 · 69% met expected standard (KS2)
- St James' CofE Primary School Blackburn 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2022 · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Barnabas and St Paul's CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St Barnabas and St Paul's CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 2 July 2024.
How did St Barnabas and St Paul's CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 70% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 8 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend St Barnabas and St Paul's CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School?
94% of the 17 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend St Barnabas and St Paul's CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Barnabas and St Paul's CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 54 families put St Barnabas and St Paul's CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School as their first choice for 60 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 50 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 119499.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 2 April 2024 to 7 April 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.