St Michael With St John CofE Primary School, Blackburn

Ofsted's report card from its 22 September 2026 inspection grades St Michael With St John CofE Primary School on 7 areas: 1 strong standard and 6 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders place an emphasis on pupils' personal development and wellbeing."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils attain well."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders promote a culture of regular attendance and positive behaviour."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have established an effective curriculum."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders have established a coherent and well-sequenced early years curriculum."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have high expectations and ambition for all pupils."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders and governors understand the school's context well."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that learning opportunities in the early years are maximised through purposeful activities and high-quality interactions"; "Leaders should ensure that the recent improvements in the school's curriculum lead to pupils deepening their learning".

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include swimming and art.

The school runs a breakfast club.

In 2025, 83% of Year 6 pupils at St Michael With St John CofE Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 81% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 76% in Blackburn with Darwen and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (79% in reading, 81% in maths).

For September 2026 entry, 24 families put St Michael With St John CofE Primary School as their first choice and 58 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 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 St Michael With St John CofE Primary School are St Alban's Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn (0.3 miles, Requires improvement, 72% reading, 66% maths); St James' Church of England Primary School Blackburn (0.4 miles, Good, 83% reading, 90% maths); Brookhouse Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 93% reading, 97% maths); and St Anne's Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn (0.4 miles, Good, 83% reading, 83% maths).

St Michael With St John CofE Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

77.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The nearest railway station is Blackburn Rail Station, about 640 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).

24 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Victoria St (adjacent), 130 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St Michael With St John CofE Primary School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 3rd decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 568 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Blackburn with Darwen (289), as is usual near a town centre.

St Michael With St John CofE Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.

The secondary schools closest to St Michael With St John CofE Primary School are Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School (0.6 miles), Tauheedul Islam Boys' High School (0.8 miles), St Wilfrid's Church of England Academy (0.9 miles) and Blackburn Central High School (1 mile).