The Olive School, Blackburn

About The Olive School, Blackburn

The Olive School, Blackburn is a Muslim primary for children aged 4 to 11 that is currently running at full capacity with 637 pupils against a published capacity of 630. The school is clearly in high demand: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 290 applications for just 90 places, with 168 of those coming as first preferences. That works out at more than three applicants for every place, and the school was oversubscribed. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals sits at 4.2%, which is notably low compared with the national average and suggests a relatively advantaged intake. The school is led by headteacher Smeena Riaz and sits within the Blackburn with Darwen local authority.

Academically, the school’s performance at Key Stage 2 is exceptional. In the 2023/24 assessments, 95% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a local authority average of just 59%. That puts The Olive School first out of 52 primary schools in Blackburn with Darwen, and in the top 1% nationally. The proportion reaching the higher standard in all three subjects was 26%, while in maths specifically, 68% of pupils achieved the higher threshold and the average scaled score was 112. Reading and writing also saw strong higher-standard results at 55% and 29% respectively. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2025 awarded Outstanding in every category judged, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, early years provision, and leadership and management. This continues a pattern of Outstanding ratings stretching back to at least 2015.

The school offers a broad set of facilities including a sensory room, music rooms, an ICT suite, a sports hall, and a chapel. Sports on offer include swimming, netball, gymnastics, dance and cross country, while clubs range from gardening to science club and film club. The school has identified SEND provisions for moderate learning difficulty, social emotional and mental health needs, speech language and communication needs, hearing impairment, physical disability, and other difficulties. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 95% of the 171 respondents would recommend the school, and strong majorities strongly agreed that their child is happy, feels safe, and that the school has high expectations. This is a school that suits families who prioritise strong academic outcomes and a clear religious character, and who are prepared for a competitive admissions process.

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