Darwen St Peter's Church of England Primary School, DARWEN

Ofsted's report card from its 6 May 2026 inspection grades Darwen St Peter's Church of England Primary School on 7 areas: 2 strong standard and 5 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders are highly skilled at identifying pupils with additional needs."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders have developed an extensive and highly effective programme to enrich pupils' personal development and relationships education."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, progress well through the curriculum."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders understand the reasons for pupils' absences."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders accurately understand the quality of the curriculum and how it is taught."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children's personal development is at the heart of the early years provision."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders and governors generally have a clear understanding of the school's effectiveness."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teachers identify and address common basic errors more consistently in pupils' written work to help them to achieve well across the curriculum"; "Leaders should identify patterns and trends in pupils' behaviour to inform their strategies to further reduce the number of incidents of misbehaviour over time".

In its own words: "As a Christian family at St Peter's School, we create a unique place of learning, nurturing the gifts that God in His awesomeness has given us. We encourage every child and prepare them for life's journey, inspiring them to fulfil their potential, dreams, and aspirations."

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:30am and after-school care.

In 2025, 50% of Year 6 pupils at Darwen St Peter's Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 62% 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 73% in reading and 73% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 26 families put Darwen St Peter's Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 56 named it as one of their preferences, for 27 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 Peter's Church of England Primary School are Darwen Aldridge Sudell Primary (0.4 miles, Good, 68% reading, 82% maths); St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen (0.6 miles, Good, 87% reading, 83% 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).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Darwen St Peter's Church of England Primary School.

30 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Darwen St Peter's Church of England Primary School (as of September 2026): 87% would recommend the school, 90% say their child is happy there and 75% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (93%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (75%).

35.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The nearest railway station is Darwen Rail Station, about 820 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).

18 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Cross Barn (by), 150 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Darwen St Peter's Church of England Primary School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 4th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 177 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 Peter's Church of England Primary School issued 9 suspensions, 3.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Darwen St Peter's Church of England Primary School are Darwen Aldridge Community Academy (0.3 miles), Aldridge UTC Darwen (0.7 miles) and Darwen Vale High School (1.7 miles).