Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #47 in Blackburn with Darwen public Top 94% UK

St Cuthbert's Church of England Primary School

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

person Mrs Emily Coolican (Headteacher)

location_onDarwen, BB3 0HY

language Visit Website phone 01254701336

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

215

school

Expected Standard

38%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.0x

summarize

St Cuthbert's Church of England Primary School is a Voluntary aided school primary school in Darwen, serving ages 4-11. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards. Ranks in the top 94% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

St Cuthbert's Church of England Primary School is a voluntary aided school in Darwen, Blackburn with Darwen, admitting pupils aged 4-11. The school has approximately 184 pupils on roll, of whom 34% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 38% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined. The school ranks #47 of 51 primaries in Blackburn with Darwen and #13,324 of 14,159 nationally.

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

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 19.4:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 3.8 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

38%

LA 61%

Reading55% LA 73%

Writing48% LA 70%

Maths69% LA 74%

Read SS

100

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

32%

LA 57%England 61%

Reading50% LA 70% · Eng 74%

Writing32% LA 67% · Eng 72%

Maths47% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Read SS

101

Maths SS

100

GPS SS

101

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

25%

LA 57%England 60%

Reading47% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Writing34% LA 69% · Eng 71%

Maths47% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Read SS

101

Maths SS

100

GPS SS

101

Progress (0 = national avg)

-6.0

Read

LA -0.5

-8.2 to -3.8

-6.4

Write

LA 0.0

-8.5 to -4.3

-6.4

Maths

LA -0.1

-8.4 to -4.3

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

60%

LA 63%England 65%

Reading67% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing83% LA 77% · Eng 78%

Maths77% LA 79% · Eng 79%

Read SS

101

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

107

Progress (0 = national avg)

-2.8

Read

LA 0.4

-5.0 to -0.6

0.8

Write

LA 0.4

-1.2 to 2.9

-0.5

Maths

LA 0.8

-2.5 to 1.4

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

66%

LA 62%

Reading76% LA 73%

Writing79% LA 75%

Maths93% LA 76%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

LA 0.1

-2.2 to 2.2

-0.8

Write

LA 0.4

-2.9 to 1.3

Maths

LA 0.6

0 to 4

leaderboard

Ranking History & Trajectory

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

Year	Primary Overall (Nat)	LA Rank	Attainment	Progress
2025	#13,324 / 14,159	#47	#13,177	#1
2024	#13,200 / 14,233	#48	#13,098	#1
2023	#13,359 / 13,940	#48	#13,092	#13,482
2019	#8,764 / 11,810	#37	#8,100	#8,254
2018	#5,090 / 10,972	#29	#5,994	#5,061

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

01 May 2024

Inspection Report

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04 April 2017

Inspection Report

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08 February 2012

Inspection Report

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17 September 2010

Inspection Report

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20 May 2009

Inspection Report

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01 July 2008

Inspection Report

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07 February 2006

Inspection Report

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15 June 2005

Inspection Report

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08 March 2004

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2024-05-01

Section 8 inspection of good and outstanding schools EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Requires improvement

Leadership

Requires improvement

verified_user Safeguarding: Met

2017-04-04

Maintained Academy and School Short inspection Legacy

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

verified_user Safeguarding: Met

2012-02-08

None Legacy

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

3.6%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

2.6%(5 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 195 pupils. During this period, there were 7 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 3.6%, which is above 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)	195	7	3.6%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	198	8	4.0%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	225	8	3.6%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	220	8	3.6%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	216	10	4.6%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	218	8	3.7%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	215	2	0.9%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	215	1	0.5%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	217	1	0.5%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	217	1	0.5%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	215	3	1.4%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	223	0	0.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	220	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	223	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	226	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	226	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	222	0	0.0%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	222	0	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	222	0	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	221	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	214	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	217	0	0.0%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	212	1	0.5%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	200	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	202	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	205	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 23 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 14 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 4 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 3 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 2 pupils

Physical Disability 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?

65%Positive

My child is happy at this school.

85%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

80%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

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

agree14%

disagree57%

strongly disagree14%

not applicable65%

Neither agree nor disagree14%

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree25%

agree25%

disagree20%

Neither agree nor disagree30%

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

strongly agree35%

agree15%

Neither agree nor disagree30%

disagree15%

Don't know5%

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

strongly agree30%

agree40%

Neither agree nor disagree15%

disagree10%

Don't know5%

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

strongly agree20%

agree35%

disagree10%

strongly disagree20%

Neither agree nor disagree15%

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

strongly agree35%

agree30%

disagree20%

strongly disagree5%

not applicable5%

Neither agree nor disagree5%

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

yes30%

no70%

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

strongly agree17%

agree33%

disagree33%

Don't know17%

Would you recommend this school to another parent?

yes70%

no30%

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

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?

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