Avondale Primary School, Darwen
Avondale Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Darwen. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2018. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in July 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 2nd-highest of the 14 schools in Darwen with published results, and 5,291st of 14,452 across England. It was 95% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2018)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Blackburn with Darwen (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Avondale Primary School in detail
Avondale Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Thank you for taking the time to visit us. However, the only way to get the full picture is to come and see what we do. We would be delighted to show you round our happy, caring school and answer any questions that you may have. We believe that Avondale School is special."
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am, from £3 per day.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 83% of Year 6 pupils at Avondale Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 79% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 76% in Blackburn with Darwen and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 82% in reading and 86% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Avondale Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 52 families put Avondale Primary School as their first choice and 80 named it as one of their preferences, for 53 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Avondale Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Avondale Primary School are St Cuthbert's Church of England Primary School (0.3 miles, Requires improvement, 55% reading, 69% maths); St Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy (0.6 miles, 77% reading, 70% maths); Holy Trinity VC School (0.6 miles, Good, 76% reading, 67% maths); and Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy (0.7 miles, Inadequate, 53% reading, 63% maths).
Avondale Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
St Cuthbert's Church of England Primary SchoolSt Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary AcademyHoly Trinity VC SchoolDarwen St James CofE Primary Academy
Who goes there
7.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (84%) and Asian (7%).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Darwen Rail Station, about 1050 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).
15 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Grafton Court (opposite), 70 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 193 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Blackburn with Darwen (289).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Avondale Primary School issued 4 suspensions, 1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Avondale Primary School are Aldridge UTC Darwen (0.5 miles), Darwen Aldridge Community Academy (0.9 miles) and Darwen Vale High School (1 mile).
Aldridge UTC DarwenDarwen Aldridge Community AcademyDarwen Vale High School
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from June 2018, 8 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its June 2018 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
28.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 83% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 86% to 79% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 72% to 76% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
28.5
Avg class size
28.8
Infant (KS1)
28.4
KS2
13
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Avondale Primary School
Our New Digital Leaders Club!
29 Sep 2026
We’ve had a ROCKING day!
25 Sep 2026
Stars of the Week
25 Sep 2026
New Intake 2027
11 Sep 2026
Schools Out for Summer
17 Jul 2026
Happy Retirement
17 Jul 2026
From Avondale Primary School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Avondale Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Avondale Primary School.
- Safe Hands580m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Avondale Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Avondale Primary School is in Blackburn with Darwen; for families living there:
Apply to Blackburn with Darwen for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 18
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 5
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 18 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 13 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt.
6 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Blackburn with Darwen is 24 (the median across 89 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Avondale Primary School
Will you get a place at Avondale Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Avondale Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Avondale Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Avondale Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Blackburn with Darwen, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Avondale Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Blackburn with Darwen got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
95%
Near capacity
401 pupils
420 places
19 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Darwen
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Darwen
Across Blackburn with Darwen council
Places available
2,256
Applications
1,926
Got 1st preference
89.3%
Got preferred school
97.9%
All primary applications across Blackburn with Darwen council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
65
SEN Support
17
EHC Plans
20.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
400
Total Pupils
213
Boys
187
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
19
Teachers
21.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£55,337
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,394
Per pupil
£2484k
Total funding
£162k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.2%
Overall absence
8.8%
Persistent absence
363
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Avondale Primary School
Questions parents ask about Avondale Primary School
What are SATs results like at Avondale Primary School?
Of the pupils at Avondale Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 83% reached the expected standard in reading and 79% did so in maths.
What is Avondale Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Avondale Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2018, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Avondale Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Avondale Primary School is oversubscribed, Blackburn with Darwen allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Avondale Primary School?
Avondale Primary School was close to full in 2025, at 95% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Avondale Primary School?
Classes at Avondale Primary School average 28.5 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Avondale Primary School?
Avondale Primary School has around 400 pupils on roll. 28% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Avondale Primary School?
4.2% of sessions were missed at Avondale Primary School in 2024/25. 8.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Avondale Primary School?
Apply through Blackburn with Darwen's coordinated admissions process, naming Avondale Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Avondale Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Avondale Primary School: Safe Hands (580m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Avondale Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 18 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 13 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt. 6 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Blackburn with Darwen is 24 (the median across 89 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Avondale Primary School?
Avondale Primary School is at Durham Road, Darwen, Lancashire, BB3 1NN.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)