SchoolScoresSt Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic
Limes Avenue, Darwen, BB3 2SG
01254 706264 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 7 October 2015.
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 15 January 2025: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
22 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Darwen comparisons use the 6 of its 14 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 8 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 | Darwen | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 4th highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Darwen. Higher than 47% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 93% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 1st highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Darwen. 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 Joint 1st highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Darwen. Higher than 90% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 90% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 18 parents who had raised a concern 3rd highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Darwen. Higher than 48% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 83% | 82% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 1st highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Darwen. Higher than 90% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100%said yes | 90% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 14%). 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. Darwen figures pool parents at the 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. 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
23 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 | 4% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 87% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 78% | 72% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 83% | 77% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 110 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 16 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 14 |
| Of those, offered a place | 14 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 41 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 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 Roman Catholic 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 10th highest of 14 state primary schools in Darwen. Higher than 38% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 16.8% | 26.5%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 5th highest of 14 state primary schools in Darwen. Higher than 80% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.0% | 3.7%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 1st highest of 14 state primary schools in Darwen. Higher than 83% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 20.5% | 16.2%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 13th highest of 14 state primary schools in Darwen. Higher than 10% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.2% | 46.7%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 6th lowest of 14 state primary schools in Darwen. Lower than 49% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.0% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 10th lowest of 14 state primary schools in Darwen. Lower than 31% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 15.1% | 13.9%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 11th lowest of 14 state primary schools in Darwen. Lower than 16% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 5.0 | 2.2 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 8th lowest of 14 state primary schools in Darwen. Lower than 14% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.5% | 1.0% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 0.62% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 13th highest of 14 state primary schools in Darwen. Higher than 25% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 18.3 | 21.1 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 12th highest of 14 state primary schools in Darwen. Higher than 27% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 9.4 | 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
- Holy Trinity VC School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- Darwen St Peter's CofE Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 strong, 5 expected · 43% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ashleigh Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2023 · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
- Darwen Aldridge Sudell Primary 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 3 expected, 4 needs attention · 64% met expected standard (KS2)
- Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023 · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy 0.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 37% met expected standard (KS2)
- Avondale Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 72% 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 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016, before conversion), confirmed 2020 · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hoddlesden St Paul's CofE Primary School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 41% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen's Ofsted rating?
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 7 October 2015. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 15 January 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen 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 Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen?
100% of the 22 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 14 families put St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen as their first choice for 16 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 14 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 119667.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- 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.