SchoolScoresSt James' CofE Primary School Blackburn
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 2 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England · Nursery class
Earl Street, Blackburn, BB1 8EG
01254 698335 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 23 April 2013.
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 |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 7 December 2022: 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.
66% — 3 points above the Blackburn with Darwen average, and 4 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Blackburn with Darwen | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 66% | 63% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 2% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 83% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 67% | 72% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 90% | 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. | 108 | 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 | 45 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 43 |
| Of those, offered a place | 43 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 109 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 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.
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 32nd highest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Higher than 48% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 20.5% | 26.5%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 53rd highest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Higher than 12% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.1% | 3.7%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 16th highest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Higher than 84% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 20.9% | 16.2%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 2nd highest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Higher than 100% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 98.4% | 46.7%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 49th lowest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Lower than 14% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.6% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 47th lowest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Lower than 13% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 20.2% | 13.9%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 21st lowest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Lower than 68% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.2 | 2.2 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 21st lowest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Lower than 67% 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 50th highest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Higher than 17% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 17.2 | 21.1 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 35th highest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Higher than 37% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.0 | 10.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 28th highest of 53 state primary schools in Blackburn. Higher than 42% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 10.5% | 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
- Brookhouse Primary School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2011), confirmed 2022 · 80% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Michael With St John CofE Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2022 · 69% met expected standard (KS2)
- Cedars Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2025 · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- Queen Elizabeth's Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected · 45% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Alban's Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn 0.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Anne's Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 expected, 1 needs attention · 59% met expected standard (KS2)
- Rawdhatul Uloom Islamic Primary School 0.8 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Dar Ul Madinah 0.8 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2025)
- Lammack Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2022 · 81% met expected standard (KS2)
- Daisyfield Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 78% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St James' CofE Primary School Blackburn's Ofsted rating?
St James' CofE Primary School Blackburn was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 23 April 2013. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 7 December 2022, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did St James' CofE Primary School Blackburn do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 66% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 4 points above the England average of 62%.
Is St James' CofE Primary School Blackburn oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 43 families put St James' CofE Primary School Blackburn as their first choice for 45 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 43 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 119502.
- 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.