Primary school

Lower Darwen Primary School

  • Community School
  • ages 4–11
  • Mixed
  • Blackburn with Darwen
  • BB3 0RB
Ofsted Good · inspected Mar 2023

Homes near this school

Finding homes near…

The area around it

Results · 2024/25

Ranked 13,780 of 15,057 primaries in England · top 92%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 32%32%2016/17: top 44%2017/18: top 45%2018/19: top 56%2022/23: top 96%2023/24: top 95%2024/25: top 92%No exams

Against North WestArrows: North West rank change since 2018/19

Expected standard, RWM41% · North West 63%1/10 Well below North West−36.7 pts
Higher standard, RWM0% · North West 6%1/10 Well below North West−53.7 pts
Reading score102 · North West 1051/10 Well below North West−45.9 pts
Maths score102 · North West 1052/10 Well below North West−27.5 pts
Show KS2 results by year

No exams 2019/20–21Not published 2021/22

Expected standard, RWM
2015/16: 63% · 40 pupils · North West 55%2016/17: 66% · 41 pupils · North West 64%2017/18: 69% · 42 pupils · North West 68%2018/19: 65% · 40 pupils · North West 67%2022/23: 31% · 59 pupils · North West 61%2023/24: 35% · 57 pupils · North West 63%2024/25: 41% · 59 pupils · North West 63%69%31%No exams
Higher standard, RWM
2015/16: 13% · 40 pupils · North West 3%2016/17: 15% · 41 pupils · North West 7%2017/18: 12% · 42 pupils · North West 8%2018/19: 10% · 40 pupils · North West 9%2022/23: 2% · 59 pupils · North West 6%2023/24: 2% · 57 pupils · North West 5%2024/25: 0% · 59 pupils · North West 6%15%0%No exams
Reading score
2015/16: 104 · 40 pupils · North West 1022016/17: 105 · 41 pupils · North West 1042017/18: 105 · 42 pupils · North West 1052018/19: 105 · 40 pupils · North West 1042022/23: 100 · 59 pupils · North West 1052023/24: 100 · 57 pupils · North West 1052024/25: 102 · 59 pupils · North West 105105100No exams
Maths score
2015/16: 105 · 40 pupils · North West 1032016/17: 107 · 41 pupils · North West 1042017/18: 106 · 42 pupils · North West 1052018/19: 105 · 40 pupils · North West 1052022/23: 100 · 59 pupils · North West 1042023/24: 102 · 57 pupils · North West 1042024/25: 102 · 59 pupils · North West 105107100No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in100.0%
36 of 36 who put it first2014 · 100.0%2026 · 100.0%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st3636
2nd327
3rd161

Last distance offered: London only

Inspections · 2007–2023

  1. 2007Good
  2. 2010Satisfactory
  3. 2012Good
  4. 2018Remains Good
  5. 2023Good

5 strong areas

  • Personal development
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Early years provision
  • Effectiveness of leadership and management

0 weak areas

5 areas graded · safeguarding effective

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 2026382
Free school meals (past 6 years)17.7%
First language not English7.7%
SEN support15.7%
EHC plan4.4%
Absence (sessions missed)6.2%
Persistently absent pupils15.1%

Girls 48.6%Boys 51.4%

91% full · 420 places

Parent View

Not published for this school

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher21.8
Pupils per adult11.9
  • Classroom teachers 15.5
  • Leadership 2
  • Teaching assistants 12.2
  • Other support 9.1

Teachers 17.5 FTE · Whole workforce 38.7 · 52 people

Financials · 2025/26

Income per pupil£6,987
Spend per pupil£6,560
Staff spend per pupil£5,211
Reserve per pupil£244
  • +£93,105revenue reserve
  • +£163,156in-year balance

Grants £6,490 · self-generated £498 · premises £119 per pupil