Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy

About Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy

Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy is a Church of England state primary for mixed pupils aged 4 to 11, located in the Blackburn with Darwen local authority. With 205 pupils on roll against a capacity of 210, the school is effectively full, and the demand is clear: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 86 total applications for just 30 places, with 34 first-preference applications for those 30 spots, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.87. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals sits at 9.8%, which is notably below the national average for primary schools, suggesting a relatively less disadvantaged intake compared with many schools in the area. The school is led by headteacher Rebecca Ham and was rated Good in its most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2017, with a subsequent ungraded inspection in 2023 confirming that the school remains Good.

Academically, the school performs solidly above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 67% of pupils achieved the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a local authority average of 59%. Reading is a particular strength, with 87% reaching the expected standard and 37% achieving the higher standard. Maths scores are also healthy, with an average scaled score of 104 and 70% reaching the expected standard, though only 17% hit the higher standard in the combined measure. The school ranks 22nd out of 52 primary schools in Blackburn with Darwen, placing it in the top half of the local authority, and 5,158th nationally out of 13,686 schools. Ofsted’s graded inspection in 2017 rated overall effectiveness, leadership and management, and early years provision all as Good, a clear improvement from the Requires Improvement rating the school received in 2013.

The school offers a range of facilities including a Forest School, sensory room, playing fields, dining hall, outdoor playground and a chapel, alongside sports such as cross country, tennis, athletics, gymnastics, swimming and cricket. Clubs include coding, chess and gardening. For pupils with additional needs, the school supports seven categories of SEND, including specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health needs. With no nursery or sixth form provision, it is a straightforward primary option for families seeking a Church of England school that is in high local demand. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Hoddlesden St Paul’s Church of England Primary School, 2.4 km away, so St Barnabas is a strong Good alternative for families who want a faith-based primary with above-average outcomes and a full range of enrichment activities.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy

Helpful Guides for Parents