Livesey Saint Francis' Church of England School

About Livesey Saint Francis' Church of England School

Livesey Saint Francis' Church of England School is a smaller-than-average primary, currently teaching 172 pupils against a capacity of 210. Its intake reflects a community with above-average economic disadvantage: 23.3% of pupils qualify for free school meals, compared with a national primary average of around 24% and a local average that sits slightly lower. Demand for places is strong — for the 2025/26 reception intake, the school received 67 applications for just 24 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.79. Only 15 of those applicants listed it as their first preference, meaning the school is popular but not the very first choice for most families. It is a mixed, Church of England state primary for children aged 4 to 11, located in Blackburn with Darwen, and is led by headteacher Catherine Foster.

Academically, the school sits in the bottom half of local primaries, ranked 32nd out of 52 in the local authority on the key stage 2 reading, writing and maths expected standard measure. In the 2023/24 assessments, 57% of pupils reached the expected standard in all three subjects, just below the local authority average of 59%. Results were stronger in reading, where 70% met the expected standard and 23% achieved a higher score, and in maths, where 67% met the expected standard with an average score of 103. Writing was weaker, with only 57% reaching the expected level. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2023 rated it Good overall, a notable improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating. Personal development was judged Outstanding, and behaviour and attitudes, leadership, and the quality of education were all rated Good.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a sensory room, sports hall, ICT suite, gymnasium and a chapel. Sports provision covers cricket, tennis, netball, athletics and gymnastics, while extracurricular clubs include chess, drama, film club and science club. SEND support is well-documented, with provisions for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication difficulties, physical disabilities and other needs. For families considering this school, the oversubscription figures make it clear that securing a place is competitive, particularly if it is not your first preference. It suits families who value a Church of England ethos, want a school with strong pastoral care — reflected in the Outstanding personal development rating — and are comfortable with academic results that are slightly below the local average.

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