Community school · Blackburn with Darwen

Avondale Primary School

4–11Ages
400Pupils
PrimaryPhase
119294URN

Durham Road, Darwen, BB3 1NN · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded GoodJun 2018

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Jul 2023

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.5per place

0.8 below Blackburn with Darwen median (2.3)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Blackburn with Darwen

80 applications for 53 places · 44th of 46 in Blackburn with Darwen

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

72%met the expected standard

Blackburn with Darwen 63% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded GoodJun 2018

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Jul 2023

Inspection history

19 July 2023
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good
5 June 2018
Graded inspection: 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

1.5applications per place, Reception

0.8 below Blackburn with Darwen median (2.3) 0.7 below England median (2.2)

80 applications · 53 places offered · 52 named it first

2026 1.5; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.3
2025 1.9; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.4
2024 1.8; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.5
2023 2.0; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.3
2022 2.0; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.2
2021 1.9; Blackburn with Darwen median median 1.9
2020 1.7; Blackburn with Darwen median median 1.8
2019 2.1; Blackburn with Darwen median median 1.9
2018 2.0; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.0
2017 1.8; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.0
2016 2.4; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.0
2015 2.1; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.0
2014 2.0; 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	53	80	1.5	52	0.98
Sep 2025	57	108	1.9	53	0.93
Sep 2024	60	109	1.8	58	0.97
Sep 2023	53	105	2.0	53	1.00
Sep 2022	47	95	2.0	44	0.94
Sep 2021	48	92	1.9	47	0.98
Sep 2020	56	97	1.7	49	0.88
Sep 2019	60	126	2.1	61	1.02
Sep 2018	60	117	2.0	65	1.08
Sep 2017	59	107	1.8	53	0.90
Sep 2016	60	143	2.4	65	1.08
Sep 2015	59	124	2.1	75	1.27
Sep 2014	60	120	2.0	64	1.07

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 83% · Writing 76% · Maths 79% → all three 72% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard72%11th of 51 in Blackburn with Darwen

Blackburn with Darwen 63% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard83%

Blackburn with Darwen 76% England 78%

Higher standard40%

Blackburn with Darwen 28% England 33%

Average scaled score 107 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard76%

Blackburn with Darwen 72% England 75%

Greater depth14%

Blackburn with Darwen 8% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard79%

Blackburn with Darwen 78% England 77%

Higher standard36%

Blackburn with Darwen 20% England 24%

Average scaled score 106 (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	72%	12%	107	106
2023/24	67%	14%	106	106
2022/23	64%	11%	105	105

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

Avondale Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Remains Good2023

1.5applications per place 72%met the SATs standard
St Cuthbert's Church of England Primary School
0.6 km · Blackburn with Darwen

Requires improvement2024

4.1applications per place 38%met the SATs standard
St Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
1.0 km · Blackburn with Darwen

Remains Good2020

3.5applications per place 70%met the SATs standard
Holy Trinity VC School
1.0 km · Blackburn with Darwen

Graded · no overall grade2025

6.8applications per place 62%met the SATs standard
Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy
1.1 km · Blackburn with Darwen

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.5applications per place 37%met the SATs standard
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen
1.6 km · Blackburn with Darwen

Standards maintained2025

2.6applications per place 70%met the SATs standard
Darwen Aldridge Sudell Primary
1.6 km · Blackburn with Darwen

2026

1.7applications per place 64%met the SATs standard
Darwen St Peter's Church of England Primary School
1.9 km · Blackburn with Darwen

2026

2.1applications per place 43%met the SATs standard
Lower Darwen Primary School
2.0 km · Blackburn with Darwen

Good2023

1.9applications per place 41%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: 119294 · 889/2515
Capacity: 420 pupils · 400 on roll
Free school meals: 28.0% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address: Durham Road, Darwen, BB3 1NN
Local authority: Blackburn with Darwen

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