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

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.

Academically, the school performs well against local benchmarks. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 70% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, comfortably above the Blackburn with Darwen local authority average of 59%. In maths, 87% met the expected standard and 30% reached the higher standard, with an average scaled score of 106. Reading and writing were slightly lower, with 73% and 80% at expected respectively, and higher-standard attainment at 13% and 7%. The school ranks 19th out of 52 primary schools in the local authority, placing it in the top 40% regionally and nationally. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in October 2022, confirmed the school remains Good, a rating it has held consistently since at least 2012. Leadership and management were also judged Good.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including an ICT suite, art studios, a gymnasium, a sensory room, a library, an outdoor playground, a forest school area and a chapel. Sports provision covers rounders, swimming, cross country, netball, football and cricket, while clubs include gardening, drama, choir and science club. The school supports pupils with moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. With no nursery or sixth form, it is a straightforward primary option for Catholic families or those seeking a faith-based education in a popular, oversubscribed school. Given the high demand, parents should be prepared to apply early and ensure they meet the admissions criteria, particularly around faith affiliation, to maximise their chances of a place.

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