St Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy, Darwen

From the headteacher's welcome: "There is much to celebrate at St Edward's R.C. Primary School. Our school is a welcoming school where people are helpful, considerate and respectful of each other. A hive of creatively and excellence where the children are happy and enjoy learning."

The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.

In 2025, 77% of Year 6 pupils at St Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 70% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 76% in Blackburn with Darwen and 77% and 75% across England.

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

For September 2026 entry, 13 families put St Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy as their first choice and 45 named it as one of their preferences, for 13 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to St Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy are St Cuthbert's Church of England Primary School (0.3 miles, Requires improvement, 55% reading, 69% maths); Avondale Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 83% reading, 79% maths); Lower Darwen Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 58% reading, 53% maths); and Blackburn the Redeemer CofE Primary (1 mile, Outstanding, 88% reading, 90% maths).

St Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

St Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy is one of 18 schools run by Romero Catholic Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 56% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

6.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (89%) and Black (6%).

In 2026, 37 pupils (18.7%) received SEN support and 1 (0.5%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

St Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy had 8 teachers in 2026, one for every 25 pupils: fewer teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Darwen Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Birch Hall Avenue (by), 50 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 122 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Blackburn with Darwen (289).

In 2024/25, St Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy issued 7 suspensions, 3.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to St Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy are Darwen Vale High School (0.6 miles), Aldridge UTC Darwen (1.1 miles) and Darwen Aldridge Community Academy (1.4 miles).