SchoolScoresSt Paul's Roman Catholic Primary School, Feniscowles, Blackburn
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic
Preston Old Road, Feniscowles, Blackburn, BB2 5EP
01254 201495 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 8 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 | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 12 February 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
41 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 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 15th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Blackburn. Higher than 35% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 94% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 8th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Blackburn. Higher than 68% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 94% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 12th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Blackburn. Higher than 68% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 92% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 33 parents who had raised a concern Joint 12th highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Blackburn. Higher than 45% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 82% | 78% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 14th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Blackburn. Higher than 44% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 90%said yes | 88% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 19%). 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
32 pupils in this year group.
59% — 4 points below the Blackburn with Darwen average, and 3 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Blackburn with Darwen | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 59% | 63% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 6% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 78% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 78% | 72% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 72% | 77% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 102 | 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 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 30 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 41 |
| Of those, offered a place | 30 (73%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 93 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.4 · 2025: 1.2 · 2026: 1.4
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 49th highest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Higher than 10% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 7.5% | 26.5%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 47th highest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Higher than 25% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.9% | 3.7%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 51st highest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Higher than 5% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 6.5% | 16.2%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 53rd highest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Higher than 0% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 46.7%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Lower than 91% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.5% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 12th lowest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Lower than 76% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 7.6% | 13.9%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 34th lowest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Lower than 53% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.9 | 2.2 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 27th 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 33rd highest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Higher than 49% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 20.5 | 21.1 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 21st highest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Higher than 60% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.3 | 10.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 9th highest of 53 state primary schools in Blackburn. Higher than 66% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 17.3% | 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
- Feniscowles Primary School 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2023 · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Livesey Saint Francis' CofE School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Meadowhead Junior School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), some aspects weaker 2025 · 40% met expected standard (KS2)
- Meadowhead Community Infant School and Nursery 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), confirmed 2022
- St Peter's Roman Catholic Primary School, Blackburn 1.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Aidan's Primary School - A CofE Academy 1.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 23% met expected standard (KS2)
- Griffin Park Primary School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 75% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Stephen's Tockholes CofE Primary School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 expected, 1 needs attention · 10% met expected standard (KS2)
- Wensley Fold CofE Primary Academy 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 83% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Luke and St Philips CofE Primary School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 46% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Paul's Roman Catholic Primary School, Feniscowles, Blackburn's Ofsted rating?
St Paul's Roman Catholic Primary School, Feniscowles, Blackburn was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 8 October 2015. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 12 February 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did St Paul's Roman Catholic Primary School, Feniscowles, Blackburn do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 59% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 3 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend St Paul's Roman Catholic Primary School, Feniscowles, Blackburn?
90% of the 41 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend St Paul's Roman Catholic Primary School, Feniscowles, Blackburn to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Paul's Roman Catholic Primary School, Feniscowles, Blackburn oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 41 families put St Paul's Roman Catholic Primary School, Feniscowles, Blackburn as their first choice for 30 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 30 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 119649.
- 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.