The Olive School, Blackburn, Blackburn
The Olive School, Blackburn is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Blackburn, part of Star Academies. It has a Muslim religious character. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the highest of the 49 schools in Blackburn with published results, and 172nd of 14,452 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.7 first-choice applications for every place. It was full in 2025, at 102% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2015)
- Demand
- 1.7 first choices per place
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Blackburn with Darwen (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
The Olive School, Blackburn in detail
The Olive School, Blackburn in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Join our team and we promise a rewarding experience in return. Read more › Keep up to date with what is going on and when. Read more › The Olive School, Blackburn is a three-form entry Muslim faith based primary school that opened in September 2013. We promote fundamental British values and welcome applications from all faiths and none."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, cricket, swimming, multi-sports, choir, Lego, STEM, cooking, eco club and art.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 98% of Year 6 pupils at The Olive School, Blackburn reached the expected standard in reading and 99% 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 95% in reading and 96% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at The Olive School, Blackburn
For September 2026 entry, 156 families put The Olive School, Blackburn as their first choice and 288 named it as one of their preferences, for 90 places offered. That is 1.7 first choices for every place. 67 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at The Olive School, Blackburn
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to The Olive School, Blackburn are St Silas's CofE Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 69% reading, 67% maths); Wensley Fold CofE Primary Academy (0.5 miles, Outstanding, 90% reading, 93% maths); Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn (0.5 miles, Good, 73% reading, 63% maths); and Queen Elizabeth's Primary School (0.8 miles, 63% reading, 54% maths).
The Olive School, Blackburn's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
St Silas's CofE Primary SchoolWensley Fold CofE Primary AcademySacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School BlackburnQueen Elizabeth's Primary School
The trust
The Olive School, Blackburn is one of 36 schools run by Star Academies, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 85% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
What parents say
171 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Olive School, Blackburn (as of September 2025): 95% would recommend the school, 98% say their child is happy there and 90% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that pupils behave well (98%); the weakest, that the school supports their child's wider development (86%).
Who goes there
4.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 78.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 54 pupils (8.5%) received SEN support and 26 (4.1%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Mill Hill (Lancs) Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Scar Lane (adjacent), 250 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 139 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
The Olive School, Blackburn recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to The Olive School, Blackburn are Tauheedul Islam Girls' High School (0.1 miles), Witton Park Academy (0.8 miles) and Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School (0.8 miles).
Tauheedul Islam Girls' High SchoolWitton Park AcademyQueen Elizabeth's Grammar School
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; 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 June 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The Olive School excels at creating an oasis of calm where pupils take pride in meeting high expectations for behaviour and learning. Teachers use expert subject knowledge to design learning precisely matched to what pupils already know, helping them achieve highly across all subjects. The school carefully develops pupils' talents through a tremendous range of enrichment opportunities, helping them leave as confident, articulate individuals with a strong sense of right and wrong.
Key Strengths
- Carefully designed curriculum that ignites pupils' curiosity and builds on prior knowledge
- Expert subject knowledge among staff with strong support for pupils with additional needs
- Exceptional reading provision with a buzz about reading from early years
- Outstanding personal development as the heartbeat of the school, preparing pupils as active community citizens
- Harmonious behaviour and respectful attitudes throughout the school
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Enrichment opportunities, charitable projects, roles of responsibility
The Olive School is an outstanding primary school where pupils thrive through exceptional academic education, strong pastoral support, and rich opportunities. Leaders pursue excellence tenaciously, and pupils achieve highly while developing impressive understanding of the world around them.
At a Glance
4.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
171 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 remained stable at around 98% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 99% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 95% to 99% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
30.4
Avg class size
30.3
Infant (KS1)
30.5
KS2
20
Total classes
6 classes with more than 30 pupils
2 unlawfully large infant classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from The Olive School, Blackburn
Year 5 pupils soar through residential adventure in North Yorkshire
7 May 2026
Powerful performances and persuasive points deliver dual competition delight for Olive pupils
7 Apr 2026
Olive School finalists shine at the Star Awards 2025
25 Apr 2025
Intrepid explorers venture to North Yorkshire on PGL adventure
Olympic rower makes waves encouraging pupils to push boundaries and believe
Seasonal smiles and sweet surprises for local families and communities
From The Olive School, Blackburn's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with The Olive School, Blackburn
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near The Olive School, Blackburn.
- Grade Booster Tuition Centre800m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Olive School, Blackburn from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Olive School, Blackburn 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
- 20
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 20 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 18 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
9 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 The Olive School, Blackburn
Will you get a place at The Olive School, Blackburn? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against The Olive School, Blackburn's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for The Olive School, Blackburn:
- The straight-line distance from your home to The Olive School, Blackburn.
- 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 The Olive School, Blackburn 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
102%
Over capacity
641 pupils
630 places
11 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Blackburn
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Blackburn
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: 1.7 first choices per place
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
54
SEN Support
26
EHC Plans
12.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
638
Total Pupils
313
Boys
325
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
28
Teachers
22.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£41,912
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£4,955
Per pupil
£3377k
Total funding
£39k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.1%
Overall absence
5.1%
Persistent absence
550
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
The Olive School, Blackburn
Questions parents ask about The Olive School, Blackburn
What are SATs results like at The Olive School, Blackburn?
Of the pupils at The Olive School, Blackburn who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 98% reached the expected standard in reading and 99% did so in maths.
What is The Olive School, Blackburn's Ofsted rating?
The Olive School, Blackburn's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2015, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for The Olive School, Blackburn?
No fixed boundary. When The Olive School, Blackburn 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 The Olive School, Blackburn?
The Olive School, Blackburn was full in 2025, at 102% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at The Olive School, Blackburn?
Classes at The Olive School, Blackburn average 30.4 pupils (2025/26). 6 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to The Olive School, Blackburn?
The Olive School, Blackburn has around 638 pupils on roll. 4% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at The Olive School, Blackburn?
3.1% of sessions were missed at The Olive School, Blackburn in 2024/25. 5.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to The Olive School, Blackburn?
Apply through Blackburn with Darwen's coordinated admissions process, naming The Olive School, Blackburn 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 The Olive School, Blackburn have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of The Olive School, Blackburn: Grade Booster Tuition Centre (800m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near The Olive School, Blackburn?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 20 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 18 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 9 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 The Olive School, Blackburn?
The Olive School, Blackburn is at Meins Road, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB2 6QQ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)