Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy, Darwen
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
The school has raised its ambitions for what pupils can achieve and introduced new, more challenging curriculums. Early years provision is particularly strong, with children well-prepared for key stage 1. The school prioritises reading and has invested in staff training to teach phonics effectively, resulting in improving pupil fluency and confidence.
Key Strengths
- Early years provision is effective with children developing curiosity and independence
- Reading is a priority with strong phonics teaching and improving pupil fluency
- Behaviour and attitudes are good with most pupils respectful and kind to each other
- Staff receive appropriate training and support with subject leaders increasingly guiding teaching
- Attendance rates are improving through swift and effective family support
Areas for Improvement
- Many pupils have significant knowledge gaps that are not identified or addressed quickly enough before moving to new learning
- Some pupils with SEND do not receive adapted teaching to meet their needs
- New curriculums beyond reading and maths are in early stages with inconsistent implementation
- Some subject leaders lack the confidence and skills to drive improvements in their curriculum areas
- Pupils in key stages 1 and 2 continue to develop gaps in knowledge, particularly in writing
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with appropriate systems in place to protect pupils.
Extracurricular Activities
Dance club, drama club, netball club, reading cafe sessions, trips to beaches and parks, residential visits, school council membership, peer mediators, breakfast club
Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy has made progress since being judged inadequate in February 2023 and no longer requires special measures. However, the quality of education requires improvement as new curriculums are still in early stages and pupils have knowledge gaps.
At a Glance
41.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
16 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 38% to 53%. Maths has improved from 34% to 63%. Writing has improved from 34% to 47%.
Class Sizes
19.4
Avg class size
21.0
Infant (KS1)
22.3
KS2
9
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
77%
Available places
203 pupils
265 capacity
62 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Darwen
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Darwen
Admissions Demand - Blackburn with Darwen
Places available
2,356
Applications
1,866
Got 1st preference
90.9%
Got preferred school
98.3%
Primary admissions across Blackburn with Darwen (2025/26)
Inspection History(6)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.48001%
Overall absence
33.33333%
Persistent absence
159
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy
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