St Paul's Roman Catholic Primary School, Feniscowles, Blackburn

About St Paul's Roman Catholic Primary School, Feniscowles, Blackburn

Parents at St Paul’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Feniscowles, are overwhelmingly positive about their experience. In the most recent Parent View survey, covering September 2024 to September 2025, 90% of the 41 respondents said they would recommend the school to other parents. That confidence is reflected in the school’s popularity: for the 2025/26 academic year, St Paul’s received 100 applications for just 30 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.33. Of those 35 first-preference applications, 29 were offered a place. The survey also shows strong satisfaction with day-to-day life. 80% of parents strongly agreed that their child is happy at the school, and the same proportion strongly agreed that their child feels safe. 73% strongly agreed that the school has high expectations for their child, and 78% strongly agreed that it offers a good range of subjects. The only area where opinion was more divided was how concerns are dealt with: 49% strongly agreed they are handled properly, but 12% disagreed and 2% didn’t know.

Academically, St Paul’s performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 76% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the Blackburn with Darwen local authority average of 59%. That places the school 7th out of 52 primary schools in the borough, putting it in the top 25% nationally. Average scores were 105 in reading and 104 in maths, both above the national benchmark of 100. The proportion of pupils reaching the higher standard in all three subjects was 3%, with 27% reaching that level in reading and 18% in both maths and writing. The school’s most recent graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2015, rated it Good overall, with Good for leadership and management, and Good for early years provision. A subsequent ungraded inspection in February 2025 confirmed that standards have been maintained.

The school operates from a site that includes a sports hall, library, art studios, chapel and dining hall. Clubs on offer include art, drama, gardening, choir, film club and chess, while sporting provision covers netball, football, cricket and gymnastics. St Paul’s is a Roman Catholic state primary for mixed pupils aged 5 to 11, with a current roll of 214 against a capacity of 210. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 6.1%, well below the national average. The school’s SEND register covers specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. With strong academic outcomes, high parental satisfaction and significant oversubscription, this is a school that suits families who value a faith-based primary with a clear track record of delivering above-average results in a supportive environment.

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