St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen, DARWEN
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Darwen. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in January 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the highest of the 14 schools in DARWEN with published results, and 3,408th of 14,452 across England. It was 77% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2015)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Blackburn with Darwen (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen in detail
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen in its own words
The school runs after-school care.
Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 87% of Year 6 pupils at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen reached the expected standard in reading and 83% 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 70% in reading and 50% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen
For September 2026 entry, 14 families put St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen as their first choice and 41 named it as one of their preferences, for 16 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 St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen are Holy Trinity VC School (0.4 miles, Good, 76% reading, 67% maths); Darwen St Peter's Church of England Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 50% reading, 62% maths); Ashleigh Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 66% reading, 86% maths); and Darwen Aldridge Sudell Primary (0.7 miles, Good, 68% reading, 82% maths).
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
Holy Trinity VC SchoolDarwen St Peter's Church of England Primary SchoolAshleigh Primary SchoolDarwen Aldridge Sudell Primary
What parents say
22 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen (as of September 2025): 100% would recommend the school, 96% say their child is happy there and 80% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (80%).
Who goes there
15.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 1.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Darwen Rail Station, about 980 metres away (roughly a 12-minute walk).
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Chapel Street (adjacent), 180 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen 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 173 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, St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen issued 8 suspensions, 5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen are Darwen Aldridge Community Academy (0.4 miles) and Aldridge UTC Darwen (0.5 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; 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
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from October 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's January 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
St Joseph's creates a happy, safe environment where pupils feel valued and genuinely cared for by staff. The school has ambitious expectations for all pupils and delivers an engaging curriculum that helps them learn well over time. Pupils develop strong character through a wide range of activities, leadership opportunities and lessons on important life skills, leaving them exceptionally well prepared for the future.
Key Strengths
- Rigorous early reading curriculum with phonics taught from Reception - children learn to read well
- Excellent support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, with quick identification and tailored help
- Strong behaviour systems with fair treatment of pupils who conduct themselves well and are polite
- Ambitious curriculum that helps pupils know and remember more over time, with clear knowledge progression
- Wide range of enrichment activities including leadership roles, trips and residential visits that prepare pupils well for later life
Areas for Improvement
- Some teachers do not check pupils' learning effectively enough, missing opportunities to address misconceptions or extend learning when pupils are ready
- Some 2024 Year 6 national assessment results do not reflect improvements to the curriculum or how well current pupils are learning
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff creating an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Choir, dodgeball, leadership roles (chaplains, school council representatives, buddies), trips, residential visits, after-school clubs, breakfast club
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School has maintained good standards following its previous inspection. The school has overhauled its curriculum and demonstrates strong leadership commitment to continuous improvement.
At a Glance
15.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
22 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 70% to 87% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 50% to 83% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 70% to 78% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
23.6
Avg class size
18.7
Infant (KS1)
27.3
KS2
7
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen
Harvest Collection 2026
28 Sep 2026
New Newsletter!
14 Sep 2026
Our Open Day - 7th October 2026
14 Sep 2026
From St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen
Before and after school care
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Blackburn with Darwen
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen.
- Kidsland Limited at St Joseph's Church Hall Darwen290m away · Not yet graded
- Kidsland Limited @ Ashleigh Primary School930m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen 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
- 8
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 8 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 4 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt.
2 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 St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen
Will you get a place at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen.
- 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 St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen 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
77%
Available places
162 pupils
210 places
48 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(9)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
31
SEN Support
8
EHC Plans
23.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
165
Total Pupils
87
Boys
78
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
9
Teachers
18.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,368
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,579
Per pupil
£995k
Total funding
£39k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.0%
Overall absence
15.1%
Persistent absence
152
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
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen
Questions parents ask about St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen
What are SATs results like at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen?
Of the pupils at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 87% reached the expected standard in reading and 83% did so in maths.
What is St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen's Ofsted rating?
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen's most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2015, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen?
No fixed boundary. When St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen 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 St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen?
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen was not full in 2025: it ran at 77% of its 210 places.
How big are the classes at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen?
Classes at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen average 23.6 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen?
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen has around 165 pupils on roll. 15% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen?
5% of sessions were missed at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen in 2024/25. 15.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen?
Apply through Blackburn with Darwen's coordinated admissions process, naming St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen 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 St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen have a breakfast club or after-school club?
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Ofsted's childcare register lists 2 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen: Kidsland Limited at St Joseph's Church Hall Darwen (290m away, registered, not yet graded) and Kidsland Limited @ Ashleigh Primary School (930m away, registered, not yet graded).
How many road collisions happen near St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 8 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 4 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt. 2 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 St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen?
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen is at Limes Avenue, DARWEN, Lancashire, BB3 2SG.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)