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OpenPrimaryOfsted: Not judgedURN 119503

St James' Church of England Primary School

Voluntary aided school · Darwen · BB3 0QP

Ages 4–11 · 202 pupils · Blackburn with Darwen

School website

Ofsted

Not judged

KS2 expected (RWM)

50%

Overall absence

6.2%

Admissions demand

1.00 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Not judged

Inspection date

2024-10-29

Overall effectiveness
Not judged
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)50%
Higher standard (RWM)7%
Avg scaled score — reading
108.0
Avg scaled score — maths
102.0
Avg scaled score — GPS
102.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

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

Overall absence6.2%
Persistent absence (10%+)19.9%
Unauthorised1.4%
Authorised absence
4.8%
Severe absence (50%+)
0.0%
Enrolments in measure
171

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

1.00 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

25

Places offered

26

1st-preference offers

25

Total preferences (any rank)
54
Preferred offers (top 3)
25
Applications from outside LA
0
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 fill96%

202 pupils · 210 places

Pupils on roll
202
Boys / girls
98 / 104
School capacity
210
Capacity fill
202 / 210 (96%)
Free school meals
25.2%
FSM pupils
51
Gender
Mixed
School type
Voluntary aided school

Age range

Ages 4–11

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

0 / 6

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

School characteristics

Religious character
Church of England
Diocese
Diocese of Blackburn
Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Voluntary aided school
Headteacher
Miss Melissa Tindall

Location

Address
Off Stopes Brow, Lower Darwen
Postcode
BB3 0QP
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

Local context

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

Mixed voluntary aided school (primary), Ages 4–11, in Darwen, Blackburn with Darwen, 202 pupils on roll. Free school meals: 25.2%. Religious character: Church of England. Diocese: Diocese of Blackburn.

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

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

Contact

Headteacher
Miss Melissa Tindall
Telephone
01254698656
Website
www.stjameslowerdarwen.co.uk

Official links