Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #41 in Blackburn with Darwen public Top 92% UK

Lower Darwen Primary School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

person Simone Addy (Headteacher)

location_onDarwen, BB3 0RB

language Visit Website phone 0125455639

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

379

school

Expected Standard

41%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

0.8x

summarize

Lower Darwen Primary School is a Community school primary school in Darwen, serving ages 4-11. Rated Good by Ofsted. Ranks in the top 92% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

Lower Darwen Primary School is a community school in Darwen, Blackburn with Darwen, admitting pupils aged 4-11. The school has approximately 382 pupils on roll, of whom 20% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 41% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined. The school ranks #41 of 51 primaries in Blackburn with Darwen and #11,426 of 14,159 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.8× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 21.8:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.4 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

41%

LA 61%

Reading58% LA 73%

Writing63% LA 70%

Maths53% LA 74%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

35%

LA 57%England 61%

Reading44% LA 70% · Eng 74%

Writing51% LA 67% · Eng 72%

Maths54% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Read SS

100

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

100

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

31%

LA 57%England 60%

Reading47% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Writing68% LA 69% · Eng 71%

Maths53% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Read SS

100

Maths SS

100

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-4.2

Read

LA -0.5

-5.8 to -2.5

0.0

Write

LA 0.0

-1.5 to 1.6

-3.3

Maths

LA -0.1

-4.8 to -1.7

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

65%

LA 63%England 65%

Reading75% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing75% LA 77% · Eng 78%

Maths80% LA 79% · Eng 79%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

105

GPS SS

104

Progress (0 = national avg)

0.5

Read

LA 0.4

-1.5 to 2.4

-2.5

Write

LA 0.4

-4.3 to -0.7

0.0

Maths

LA 0.8

-1.7 to 1.7

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

69%

LA 62%

Reading74% LA 73%

Writing83% LA 75%

Maths81% LA 76%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

-0.4

Read

LA 0.1

-2.2 to 1.4

0.8

Write

LA 0.4

-0.9 to 2.5

0.7

Maths

LA 0.6

-0.9 to 2.3

leaderboard

Ranking History & Trajectory

National & Local Authority position based on DfE performance data · Methodology

Year	Primary Overall (Nat)	LA Rank	Attainment	Progress
2025	#11,426 / 14,159	#41	#12,895	#1
2024	#12,607 / 14,233	#44	#12,883	#1
2023	#12,922 / 13,940	#45	#12,838	#12,093
2019	#5,811 / 11,810	#25	#6,693	#7,887
2018	#6,095 / 10,972	#31	#4,978	#5,107

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

21 March 2023

Inspection Report

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06 October 2020

Inspection Report

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24 January 2018

Inspection Report

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23 October 2012

Inspection Report

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24 November 2010

Inspection Report

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03 May 2007

Inspection Report

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17 March 2003

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2023-03-21

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

verified_user Safeguarding: Met

2018-01-24

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

2012-10-23

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Latest Ungraded: School remains Good

2010-11-24

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

0.5%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.5%(2 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 389 pupils. During this period, there were 2 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.5%, which is below the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	389	2	0.5%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	383	1	0.3%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	379	1	0.3%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	380	3	0.8%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	379	2	0.5%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	380	1	0.3%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	379	2	0.5%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	382	2	0.5%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	389	1	0.3%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	387	1	0.3%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	376	0	0.0%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	384	0	0.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	388	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	390	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	385	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	385	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	386	0	0.0%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	356	2	0.6%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	355	0	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	352	2	0.6%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	341	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	344	0	0.0%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	338	0	0.0%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	323	1	0.3%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	319	1	0.3%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	319	0	0.0%	0.5%

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Speech, Language & Communication 24 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 21 pupils

Hearing Impairment 12 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 10 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 5 pupils

Visual Impairment 3 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 2 pupils

Physical Disability 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

89%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

93%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

13%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree49%

agree34%

disagree15%

don't know2%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree60%

agree38%

strongly disagree2%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree40%

agree13%

disagree9%

strongly disagree8%

don't know4%

not applicable26%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree42%

agree43%

disagree9%

don't know6%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree47%

agree47%

disagree4%

don't know2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree47%

agree32%

disagree15%

strongly disagree6%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree58%

agree34%

don't know8%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree47%

agree38%

disagree9%

strongly disagree2%

don't know4%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree45%

agree34%

disagree11%

strongly disagree2%

don't know8%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes85%

no15%

Top Primary Schools in Blackburn with Darwen

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Daisyfield Primary School

Good

location_on Blackburn, BB1 5LB

emoji_events #1 in LA

Lammack Primary School

Good

location_on Blackburn, BB1 8LH

emoji_events #2 in LA

Griffin Park Primary School

Expected standard

location_on Blackburn, BB2 2PN

emoji_events #3 in LA

Brookhouse Primary School

Good

location_on Blackburn, BB1 6NY

emoji_events #4 in LA

Wensley Fold CofE Primary Academy

Outstanding

location_on Blackburn, BB2 6LX

emoji_events #5 in LA

Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn

Expected standard

location_on Blackburn, BB2 3UG

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Blackburn with Darwen arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ranking History & Trajectory

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Blackburn with Darwen

Daisyfield Primary School

Lammack Primary School

Griffin Park Primary School

Brookhouse Primary School

Wensley Fold CofE Primary Academy

Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn