Ofsted: Needs attention trending_up Places Available emoji_events #22 in Blackburn with Darwen public Top 53% UK

St Stephen's Church of England Primary School

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

person Mrs Jacquelyn Young (Headteacher)

location_onBlackburn, BB1 5PE

language Visit Website phone 01254277350

verified

Ofsted

Needs attention

Inspected 2026

groups

Students

390

school

Expected Standard

63%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

0.9x

summarize

St Stephen's Church of England Primary School is a Voluntary aided school primary school in Blackburn, serving ages 4-11. Assessed as Needs Attention in curriculum and teaching on its latest Ofsted Report Card. Ranks in the top 53% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

St Stephen's Church of England Primary School is a voluntary aided school in Blackburn, Blackburn with Darwen, admitting pupils aged 4-11. The school has approximately 392 pupils on roll, of whom 26% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 63% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 5% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #22 of 51 primaries in Blackburn with Darwen and #4,849 of 14,159 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2026. The school's current overall rating is Needs attention. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Needs attention, behaviour and attitudes Urgent improvement, personal development Expected standard, and leadership and management Needs attention.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 20.2:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.0 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

63%

LA 61%

Reading76% LA 73%

Writing64% LA 70%

Maths88% LA 74%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

66%

LA 57%England 61%

Reading78% LA 70% · Eng 74%

Writing67% LA 67% · Eng 72%

Maths86% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Read SS

106

Maths SS

107

GPS SS

108

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

68%

LA 57%England 60%

Reading77% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Writing80% LA 69% · Eng 71%

Maths85% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

108

Progress (0 = national avg)

0.8

Read

LA -0.5

-0.8 to 2.4

2.0

Write

LA 0.0

0.5 to 3.6

2.8

Maths

LA -0.1

1.3 to 4.3

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

60%

LA 63%England 65%

Reading67% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing79% LA 77% · Eng 78%

Maths81% LA 79% · Eng 79%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

105

GPS SS

107

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.5

Read

LA 0.4

-3.1 to 0.1

0.5

Write

LA 0.4

-0.9 to 2.0

1.1

Maths

LA 0.8

-0.3 to 2.4

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

72%

LA 62%

Reading84% LA 73%

Writing81% LA 75%

Maths86% LA 76%

Read SS

106

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

110

Progress (0 = national avg)

1.2

Read

LA 0.1

-0.3 to 2.7

0.6

Write

LA 0.4

-0.8 to 2

2.6

Maths

LA 0.6

1.3 to 3.9

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Ranking History & Trajectory

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

Year	Primary Overall (Nat)	LA Rank	Attainment	Progress
2025	#4,849 / 14,159	#22	#7,408	#1
2024	#2,869 / 14,233	#17	#5,609	#1
2023	#1,462 / 13,940	#5	#4,306	#2,550
2019	#6,951 / 11,810	#31	#8,100	#6,183
2018	#2,466 / 10,972	#13	#4,091	#2,851

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

28 April 2026

Inspection Report

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08 February 2022

Inspection Report

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17 January 2019

Inspection Report

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03 February 2015

Inspection Report

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20 March 2013

Inspection Report

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06 December 2012

Inspection Report

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23 May 2012

Inspection Report

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25 January 2012

Inspection Report

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12 October 2011

Inspection Report

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17 May 2011

Inspection Report

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29 November 2010

Inspection Report

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28 February 2007

Inspection Report

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30 October 2001

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

5 Evaluations

2026-04-28

S5 Inspection REIF Report Card

Report Card

info

Why no single overall grade?

From autumn 2024 / 2025, Ofsted replaced single-word headline grades (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate) with individual area judgements on a Report Card.

Curriculum & Teaching

Needs attention

Achievement

Needs attention

Attendance & Behaviour

Urgent improvement

Personal Development

Expected standard

Inclusion

Expected standard

Leadership & Governance

Needs attention

Early Years

Expected standard

verified_user Safeguarding: Met

2022-02-08

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Good

verified_user Safeguarding: Met

2019-01-17

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

2015-02-03

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Latest Ungraded: School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next

2013-03-20

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

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

0.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.0%(0 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 400 pupils. During this period, there were 0 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.0%, 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)	400	0	0.0%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	401	0	0.0%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	406	0	0.0%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	395	0	0.0%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	392	0	0.0%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	392	0	0.0%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	390	2	0.5%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	387	0	0.0%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	405	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	404	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	408	0	0.0%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	412	0	0.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	406	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	409	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	415	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	415	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	406	0	0.0%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	411	0	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	407	0	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	402	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	425	1	0.2%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	423	0	0.0%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	419	0	0.0%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	433	6	1.4%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	435	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	434	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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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 50 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 10 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 4 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 4 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 3 pupils

Hearing Impairment 3 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 3 pupils

Physical Disability 2 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

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

Overall, how do parents view this school?

21%Positive

My child is happy at this school.

42%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

41%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

When bullying took place, the school dealt with it quickly and effectively.

disagree29%

strongly disagree65%

not applicable41%

Neither agree nor disagree6%

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree17%

agree21%

strongly disagree48%

Neither agree nor disagree14%

When the school makes decisions it has the child's best interests at heart.

strongly agree17%

agree7%

Neither agree nor disagree21%

disagree14%

strongly disagree41%

The school gives my child the right support to enable them to learn well.

strongly agree14%

agree34%

Neither agree nor disagree7%

disagree17%

strongly disagree24%

Don't know3%

The school communicates well with me about the things I need to know.

strongly agree14%

agree7%

disagree10%

strongly disagree52%

Neither agree nor disagree17%

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

strongly agree10%

agree10%

disagree7%

strongly disagree55%

don't know3%

Neither agree nor disagree14%

Does your child have Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND)?

yes31%

no69%

My child has SEND, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree11%

agree11%

disagree11%

strongly disagree56%

Neither agree nor disagree11%

Would you recommend this school to another parent?

yes38%

no62%

Top Primary Schools in Blackburn with Darwen

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Good

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Griffin Park Primary School

Expected standard

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Brookhouse Primary School

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Wensley Fold CofE Primary Academy

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Expected standard

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ranking History & Trajectory

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Church of England)

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

Overall, how do parents view this school?

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

When bullying took place, the school dealt with it quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

When the school makes decisions it has the child's best interests at heart.

The school gives my child the right support to enable them to learn well.

The school communicates well with me about the things I need to know.

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 SEND, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

Would you 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