Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy, Darwen

From the headteacher's welcome: "It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to Darwen St James. As a Church of England Academy and proud member of the Cidar i Multi-Academy Trust, our vision and Christian values are at the heart of everything we do. They are not merely words on a page; they are lived out daily by our vibrant school family."

In 2025, 53% of Year 6 pupils at Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 63% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 76% in Blackburn with Darwen and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 38% in reading and 34% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 28 families put Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy as their first choice and 44 named it as one of their preferences, for 29 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy are Darwen Aldridge Sudell Primary (0.4 miles, Good, 68% reading, 82% maths); Holy Trinity VC School (0.5 miles, Good, 76% reading, 67% maths); Avondale Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 83% reading, 79% maths); and Darwen St Peter's Church of England Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 50% reading, 62% maths).

Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy is one of 15 schools run by Cidari Education Limited, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 49% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

16 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy (as of September 2025): 50% would recommend the school, 69% say their child is happy there and 56% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (81%); the weakest, that pupils behave well (50%).

34% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 34% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (57%), Asian (20%) and Black (12%).

The nearest railway station is Darwen Rail Station, about 430 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).

16 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Chapels Brow (by), 150 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 191 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).

In 2024/25, Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy issued 58 suspensions, 29.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy are Aldridge UTC Darwen (0.5 miles), Darwen Aldridge Community Academy (0.5 miles) and Darwen Vale High School (1 mile).