Community school · Blackburn with Darwen

Lower Darwen Primary School

4–11Ages
382Pupils
PrimaryPhase
119120URN

Milking Lane, Lower Darwen, Darwen, BB3 0RB · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Mar 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.9per place

0.4 below Blackburn with Darwen median (2.3)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Blackburn with Darwen

84 applications for 44 places · 32nd of 46 in Blackburn with Darwen

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

41%met the expected standard

Blackburn with Darwen 63% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 21 March 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Early years provision		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

1.9applications per place, Reception

0.4 below Blackburn with Darwen median (2.3) 0.3 below England median (2.2)

84 applications · 44 places offered · 36 named it first

2026 1.9; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.3
2025 2.3; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.4
2024 2.6; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.5
2023 2.3; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.3
2022 2.6; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.2
2021 2.7; Blackburn with Darwen median median 1.9
2020 2.2; Blackburn with Darwen median median 1.8
2019 1.9; Blackburn with Darwen median median 1.9
2018 2.3; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.0
2017 2.1; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.0
2016 2.0; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.0
2015 1.9; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.0
2014 2.6; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.4

This school
Blackburn with Darwen median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	44	84	1.9	36	0.82
Sep 2025	50	113	2.3	41	0.82
Sep 2024	45	116	2.6	44	0.98
Sep 2023	51	117	2.3	50	0.98
Sep 2022	48	125	2.6	46	0.96
Sep 2021	34	92	2.7	32	0.94
Sep 2020	45	97	2.2	37	0.82
Sep 2019	58	108	1.9	51	0.88
Sep 2018	53	122	2.3	45	0.85
Sep 2017	41	86	2.1	26	0.63
Sep 2016	49	96	2.0	36	0.73
Sep 2015	60	115	1.9	36	0.60
Sep 2014	37	95	2.6	28	0.76

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 58% · Writing 63% · Maths 53% → all three 41% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard41%45th of 51 in Blackburn with Darwen

Blackburn with Darwen 63% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard58%

Blackburn with Darwen 76% England 78%

Higher standard17%

Blackburn with Darwen 28% England 33%

Average scaled score 102 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard63%

Blackburn with Darwen 72% England 75%

Greater depth2%

Blackburn with Darwen 8% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard53%

Blackburn with Darwen 78% England 77%

Higher standard15%

Blackburn with Darwen 20% England 24%

Average scaled score 102 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Blackburn with Darwen median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	41%	0%	102	102
2023/24	35%	2%	100	102
2022/23	31%	2%	100	100

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Lower Darwen Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

1.9applications per place 41%met the SATs standard
St James' Church of England Primary School
0.7 km · Blackburn with Darwen

Graded · no overall grade2024

3.2applications per place 50%met the SATs standard
Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn
0.9 km · Blackburn with Darwen

2026

1.9applications per place 79%met the SATs standard
St Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
1.2 km · Blackburn with Darwen

Remains Good2020

3.5applications per place 70%met the SATs standard
Longshaw Infant School
1.3 km · Blackburn with Darwen

2026

1.5applications per place
Blackburn the Redeemer CofE Primary
1.4 km · Blackburn with Darwen

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.5applications per place 85%met the SATs standard
St Cuthbert's Church of England Primary School
1.7 km · Blackburn with Darwen

Requires improvement2024

4.1applications per place 38%met the SATs standard
Longshaw Community Junior School
1.8 km · Blackburn with Darwen

Remains Good2022

67%met the SATs standard
Avondale Primary School
2.0 km · Blackburn with Darwen

Remains Good2023

1.5applications per place 72%met the SATs standard

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Community school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 119120 · 889/2008
Capacity: 420 pupils · 382 on roll
Free school meals: 20.4% of pupils (England median 23%)
SEN provision: Resourced provision
Address: Milking Lane, Lower Darwen, Darwen, BB3 0RB
Local authority: Blackburn with Darwen

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources