Shadsworth Junior School

About Shadsworth Junior School

Shadsworth Junior School's headline Key Stage 2 results sit slightly above the local authority average for primary schools in Blackburn with Darwen, with 62% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined against an LA average of 59%. That three-percentage-point gap is modest but consistent, and the school's national ranking places it in the 51st percentile, meaning it performs broadly in line with the middle of schools across England. Within the local authority, it ranks 30th out of 52 primary schools, placing it in the bottom half but not far from the median. What stands out more sharply is the school's context: 56.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average, so these results represent solid progress for a cohort facing significant disadvantage.

The school's most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2019 rated it Good overall, and an ungraded inspection in January 2025 confirmed that standards have been maintained. The breakdown is particularly interesting: personal development was judged Outstanding, while quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management all remain Good. At Key Stage 2, reading and maths average scores are 106 and 104 respectively, both above the national benchmark of 100. However, the proportion reaching the higher standard in reading, writing and maths combined is just 2%, which is low. Individual subjects show more variation: 38% reached the higher standard in reading, compared with 17% in maths and 16% in writing. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it's hard to say how much value the school adds, but the expected standard figures are respectable given the high level of deprivation.

The school operates from a well-equipped site with a library, forest school, sports hall, gymnasium, sensory room, art studios and playing fields, and offers a range of sports including football, cricket, netball, gymnastics, athletics and swimming. Clubs are limited to film club, drama and choir, which some families might find narrow. SEND provision covers moderate learning difficulty, social emotional and mental health, speech language and communication, visual impairment, physical disability and autistic spectrum disorder, though the parent view data shows no responses to the SEND support question, making it hard to gauge satisfaction in that area. The school is oversubscribed with 222 pupils against a capacity of 240, and 94% of parents who responded to the Ofsted Parent View questionnaire would recommend it. This is a school that suits families who value strong pastoral care and personal development, and who are comfortable with a solid but not exceptional academic profile.

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