Classpot

Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy

Blackburn with Darwen, BB3 0EYPrimaryAges 3–11MixedState
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted inspected
3 Good · 2 Requires improvement
Jul 2025
KS2 Results
28%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
21 1st-choice / 21 places
Ranking
#13,346
of 13,686 nationally

About Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy

Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy’s Key Stage 2 results sit well below the local authority average for Blackburn with Darwen, which is a significant point to consider. In the 2023/24 academic year, just 28% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a local authority average of 59%. That places the school 50th out of 56 primary schools in the borough, and in the bottom 2% nationally. The school’s average maths score was 96 and reading 98, both below the national benchmark of 100. On the positive side, the school has nursery provision for children from age three, and its most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2025 saw the overall effectiveness not judged, but the quality of education was rated Requires Improvement, while early years provision, personal development, and behaviour and attitudes were all rated Good.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range3 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterChurch of England
AddressSt James Crescent, Darwen, Blackburn with Darwen, BB3 0EY
HeadteacherLaura Peckson
Local AuthorityBlackburn with Darwen
Number of Pupils194
Free School Meals (FSM)53.2%
School Capacity194 / 265 (73% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

The full report on this school

What 16 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

9 Jul 2025
View Report
Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Requires improvement
Early Years Provision
Good

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.

Source: Ofsted, 15 Sept 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

9
ICT SuiteSports HallGymnasiumPlaying FieldsForest SchoolMusic RoomsDining HallOutdoor PlaygroundChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

8

Sports

TennisCross CountryAthleticsSwimming

Clubs & Activities

Art ClubEco ClubGardeningChess

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

DyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageVisionPhysicalLearning Difficulty

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy

Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy has been rated "Requires Improvement" by Ofsted. This means the school is not yet good, but inspectors believe it can improve with the right support and changes.