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OpenPrimaryOfsted: GoodURN 119120

Lower Darwen Primary School

Community school · Darwen · BB3 0RB

Ages 4–11 · 382 pupils · Blackburn with Darwen

School website

Ofsted

Good

KS2 expected (RWM)

35%

Overall absence

7.1%

Admissions demand

0.98 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Good

Inspection date

2023-03-21

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 2 (2023/24)

Expected standard (RWM)35%
Higher standard (RWM)2%
Avg scaled score — reading
100.0
Avg scaled score — maths
102.0
Avg scaled score — GPS
100.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence7.1%
Persistent absence (10%+)19.8%
Unauthorised2.7%
Authorised absence
4.5%
Severe absence (50%+)
2.1%
Enrolments in measure
339

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for primary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

0.98 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

44

Places offered

45

1st-preference offers

44

Total preferences (any rank)
116
Preferred offers (top 3)
45
Applications from outside LA
1
Offers to outside-LA applicants
0

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill91%

382 pupils · 420 places

Pupils on roll
382
Boys / girls
187 / 195
School capacity
420
Capacity fill
382 / 420 (91%)
Free school meals
20.4%
FSM pupils
78
Gender
Mixed
School type
Community school

Age range

Ages 4–11

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Special classes
Has Special Classes
Governance
Community school
Headteacher
Simone Addy

Location

Address
Milking Lane, Lower Darwen
Postcode
BB3 0RB
Town
Darwen
County
Lancashire
Local authority
Blackburn with Darwen
District
Blackburn with Darwen
Constituency
Rossendale and Darwen
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

SEN & specialist provision

As recorded in GIAS — provision detail, not an Ofsted judgement.

SEN types
HI - Hearing Impairment
Special classes
Has Special Classes
Resourced provision
Resourced provision
Resourced places
13 on roll / 20 capacity

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed community school (primary), Ages 4–11, in Darwen, Blackburn with Darwen, 382 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: special school. Free school meals: 20.4%. SEN provision includes: HI - Hearing Impairment.

Open schools in Darwen
19
Primary schools in Darwen
14
Academies among open schools in Darwen
37% (7)
Open schools in BB3
21
Primary in BB3
14
Open schools in Blackburn with Darwen LA
89
Primary in Blackburn with Darwen LA
56

Nearby primary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in DarwenNear BB3

  • Longshaw Infant School

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Community school · Primary

    Blackburn · BB2 3NF · Blackburn with Darwen

    Ages 4–7

    • Absence7.3%
    • FSM42.9%
    • Demand0.96

    0.8 miles away

  • Blackburn the Redeemer CofE Primary

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Voluntary aided school · Primary

    Blackburn · BB2 4JJ · Blackburn with Darwen

    Ages 4–11

    • KS281%
    • Absence4.7%
    • FSM10.3%
    • Demand1.00

    0.9 miles away

  • Longshaw Community Junior School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Primary

    Blackburn · BB2 3NX · Blackburn with Darwen

    Ages 7–11

    • KS273%
    • Absence6.2%
    • FSM65.0%

    1.1 miles away

  • Avondale Primary School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Primary

    Darwen · BB3 1NN · Blackburn with Darwen

    Ages 4–11

    • KS267%
    • Absence4.7%
    • FSM28.0%
    • Demand0.97

    1.2 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Simone Addy
Telephone
0125455639
Website
www.lowerdarwenprimary.co.uk

Official links