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St Mary's and St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn

Blackburn with Darwen, BB2 3HPPrimaryAges 4–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Oct 2022
KS2 Results
70%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
26 1st-choice / 27 places
Ranking
#4,151
of 13,686 nationally

About St Mary's and St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn

St Mary's and St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School in Blackburn is a state primary for children aged 4 to 11, currently educating 204 pupils against a capacity of 210. That leaves very little slack, and the demand is clear: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 83 applications for just 27 places, with 26 of those going to first-preference families. The oversubscription ratio sits at 3.07, meaning more than three families applied for every spot. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 28.4%, which is notably higher than the national average for primary schools and reflects the local demographic context of Blackburn with Darwen. As a Roman Catholic school, its intake is shaped by faith-based admissions criteria, but the sheer volume of applications suggests its reputation draws families from across the borough, not just the immediate parish.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range4 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterRoman Catholic
AddressBennington Street, Blackburn, Blackburn with Darwen, BB2 3HP
HeadteacherA Thomson
Local AuthorityBlackburn with Darwen
Number of Pupils204
Free School Meals (FSM)28.4%
School Capacity204 / 210 (97% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, 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

13 Oct 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Latest monitoring visit (13 Oct 2022): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 23 May 2012. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
ICT SuiteArt StudiosGymnasiumSensory RoomLibraryOutdoor PlaygroundForest SchoolChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

10

Sports

RoundersSwimmingCross CountryNetballFootballCricket

Clubs & Activities

GardeningDramaChoirScience Club

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

SEND Support

Mental HealthSpeech & LanguageLearning Difficulty

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About St Mary's and St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn

St Mary's and St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.