Official inspection reports and grades
Inspected 9 July 2025
Compared with the local authority and England
The share of pupils reaching the standard expected for their age, and the share going beyond it.
| Measure | School | Blackburn with Darwen | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing & maths — expected | 37% | 63% | 63% |
| Reading, writing & maths — higher | 0% | 6% | 8% |
| Grammar, punctuation & spelling — expected | 42% | 77% | 73% |
| Grammar, punctuation & spelling — higher | 5% | 33% | 30% |
A score of 100 is the expected standard; 110 or more is a higher standard.
| Subject | School | Blackburn with Darwen | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 99 | 105 | 106 |
| Maths | 100 | 105 | 105 |
| Grammar, punctuation & spelling | 99 | 106 | 105 |
School workforce census, 2025/26.
Ofsted’s survey of parents at this school
50%
of parents would recommend this school to another parent
16 responses up to 1 September 2025 · 8% response rate
My child is happy at this school.
69% agreeMy child feels safe at this school.
75% agreeThe school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.
50% agreeMy child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.
45% agreeThe school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.
75% agreeDarwen St James CofE Primary Academy's last overall grade from Ofsted was Inadequate, on 22 February 2023. Ofsted inspected it again on 9 July 2025 without giving an overall grade, as single-word grades ended in September 2024.
Apply through the council where you live by 15 January for a Reception place starting that September. Children start Reception in the September after their fourth birthday. You can usually list between 3 and 6 schools in order of preference, and offers are sent on 16 April, or the next working day. A place in its nursery class does not carry on into Reception, so you still need to apply. As a Church of England school it may also ask for a supplementary form, and its admissions policy says whether it does.
No. Distance only counts when Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy has more applicants than places. Then its admission criteria, set by its academy trust, decide who is offered a place first. Children in care or adopted from care come first by law. Most schools put brothers and sisters of current pupils next, then distance or a catchment area. As a Church of England school, it can give priority to children on grounds of faith. How far away the last place went changes every year, depending on who applies.
Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy had 194 pupils aged 3 to 11 at the latest school census. Its official capacity is 265. It is a mixed school.
Academy converter
0.4 miles away
Voluntary controlled school
0.5 miles away
Community school
0.7 miles away
Voluntary aided school
0.7 miles away
Voluntary aided school
0.9 miles away