Ofsted: Outstanding trending_up Popular emoji_events #48 in Blackburn with Darwen public Top 92% UK

Hoddlesden St Paul's Church of England Primary School

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

person Mr Christopher Dugdale (Headteacher)

location_onDarwen, BB3 3NH

language Visit Website phone 01254701940

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

236

school

Expected Standard

41%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.3x

summarize

Hoddlesden St Paul's Church of England Primary School is a Voluntary aided school primary school in Darwen, serving ages 3-11. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade. Demand is above capacity (1.3×) — apply through your local authority on time. Ranks in the top 92% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

Hoddlesden St Paul's Church of England Primary School is a voluntary aided school in Darwen, Blackburn with Darwen, admitting pupils aged 3-11. The school has approximately 237 pupils on roll, of whom 2% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 41% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 3% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #48 of 51 primaries in Blackburn with Darwen and #13,411 of 14,159 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Outstanding, behaviour and attitudes Outstanding, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Outstanding.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.3× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 21.3:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.2 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%

Reading62% LA 73%

Writing72% LA 70%

Maths52% LA 74%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

104

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

71%

LA 57%England 61%

Reading86% LA 70% · Eng 74%

Writing82% LA 67% · Eng 72%

Maths96% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Read SS

107

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

83%

LA 57%England 60%

Reading90% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Writing97% LA 69% · Eng 71%

Maths93% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Read SS

107

Maths SS

107

GPS SS

107

Progress (0 = national avg)

0.9

Read

LA -0.5

-1.4 to 3.1

3.2

Write

LA 0.0

1.0 to 5.4

1.9

Maths

LA -0.1

-0.2 to 4.0

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

57%

LA 63%England 65%

Reading79% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing86% LA 77% · Eng 78%

Maths68% LA 79% · Eng 79%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

100

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

-0.5

Read

LA 0.4

-2.8 to 1.8

1.0

Write

LA 0.4

-1.1 to 3.1

-4.4

Maths

LA 0.8

-6.4 to -2.4

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

79%

LA 62%

Reading96% LA 73%

Writing88% LA 75%

Maths88% LA 76%

Read SS

108

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

0.1

Read

LA 0.1

-2.3 to 2.5

-0.2

Write

LA 0.4

-2.5 to 2.1

-1.1

Maths

LA 0.6

-3.3 to 1.1

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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	#13,411 / 14,159	#48	#12,895	#1
2024	#6,430 / 14,233	#27	#3,691	#1
2023	#2,661 / 13,940	#10	#761	#2,309
2019	#10,117 / 11,810	#46	#8,857	#9,173
2018	#5,687 / 10,972	#30	#2,224	#6,871

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

10 December 2024

Inspection Report

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09 January 2013

Inspection Report

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07 January 2011

Inspection Report

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13 November 2007

Inspection Report

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13 October 2003

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2024-12-10

S5 Inspection EIF

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.

Education

Outstanding

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Outstanding

verified_user Safeguarding: Met

2013-01-09

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2007-11-13

None EIF

Good

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 231 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)	231	0	0.0%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	228	1	0.4%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	238	1	0.4%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	237	0	0.0%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	233	0	0.0%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	235	0	0.0%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	236	1	0.4%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	225	0	0.0%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	242	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	235	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	235	0	0.0%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	240	0	0.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	234	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	224	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	210	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	210	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	209	0	0.0%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	206	0	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	204	0	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	203	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	201	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	200	0	0.0%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	200	0	0.0%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	202	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	203	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	202	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 9 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 8 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 5 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 4 pupils

Multi-Sensory Impairment 3 pupils

Physical Disability 2 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 1 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.

My child is happy at this school.

98%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

96%Positive

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

10%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree79%

agree19%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree87%

agree9%

disagree2%

strongly disagree2%

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

strongly agree47%

agree15%

disagree2%

strongly disagree2%

not applicable34%

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

yes23%

no77%

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

strongly agree83%

agree17%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree79%

agree9%

disagree6%

don't know6%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree87%

agree8%

disagree4%

don't know2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree70%

agree23%

disagree4%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree83%

agree15%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree75%

agree19%

disagree4%

don't know2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree75%

agree15%

disagree6%

don't know4%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes98%

no2%

Top Primary Schools in Blackburn with Darwen

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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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

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

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