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OpenPrimaryOfsted: Needs attentionURN 119505

St Matthew's Church of England Primary School

Voluntary aided school · Blackburn · BB1 1DF

Ages 4–11 · 258 pupils · Blackburn with Darwen

School website

Ofsted

Needs attention

KS2 expected (RWM)

54%

Overall absence

5.6%

Admissions demand

1.00 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Needs attention

Inspection date

2026-01-06

  • AchievementNeeds attention
  • Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
  • InclusionNeeds attention
  • Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
  • Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
  • Leadership and governanceNeeds attention

Safeguarding standards: Met

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)54%
Higher standard (RWM)3%
Avg scaled score — reading
105.0
Avg scaled score — maths
105.0
Avg scaled score — GPS
108.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

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

Overall absence5.6%
Persistent absence (10%+)14.2%
Unauthorised1.2%
Authorised absence
4.4%
Severe absence (50%+)
0.0%
Enrolments in measure
246

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

40

Places offered

40

1st-preference offers

40

Total preferences (any rank)
86
Preferred offers (top 3)
40
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 fill92%

258 pupils · 280 places

Pupils on roll
258
Boys / girls
128 / 130
School capacity
280
Capacity fill
258 / 280 (92%)
Free school meals
39.9%
FSM pupils
103
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
Mr Julian Rogers

Location

Address
Withers Street
Postcode
BB1 1DF
Town
Blackburn
County
Lancashire
Local authority
Blackburn with Darwen
District
Blackburn with Darwen
Constituency
Blackburn
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 Blackburn, Blackburn with Darwen, 258 pupils on roll. Free school meals: 39.9%. Religious character: Church of England. Diocese: Diocese of Blackburn.

Open schools in Blackburn
79
Primary schools in Blackburn
54
Academies among open schools in Blackburn
18% (14)
Open schools in BB1
37
Primary in BB1
25
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 BlackburnNear BB1

  • Audley Junior School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Primary

    Blackburn · BB1 1SE · Blackburn with Darwen

    Ages 7–11

    • KS278%
    • Absence5.3%
    • FSM32.1%

    0.4 miles away

  • Audley Infant School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Primary

    Blackburn · BB1 1SE · Blackburn with Darwen

    Ages 3–7

    • Absence6.6%
    • FSM19.1%
    • Demand0.96

    0.4 miles away

  • St Michael With St John CofE Primary School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Voluntary controlled school · Primary

    Blackburn · BB1 6LE · Blackburn with Darwen

    Ages 4–11

    • KS267%
    • Absence5.3%
    • FSM26.0%
    • Demand0.87

    0.5 miles away

  • Daisyfield Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Primary

    Blackburn · BB1 5LB · Blackburn with Darwen

    Ages 3–11

    • KS275%
    • Absence4.0%
    • FSM19.9%
    • Demand0.88

    0.7 miles away

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

Contact

Headteacher
Mr Julian Rogers
Telephone
01254291250
Website
http://www.stmatthewsblackburn.com

Official links