Primary school

St James' Church of England Primary School

  • Voluntary Aided School
  • ages 4–11
  • Mixed
  • Church of England
  • Blackburn with Darwen
  • BB3 0QP
Ofsted areas (no overall grade) · inspected Oct 2024

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The area around it

Results · 2024/25

Ranked 12,214 of 15,057 primaries in England · top 82%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 55%55%2016/17: top 21%21% · 2016/172017/18: top 52%2018/19: top 81%2022/23: top 72%2023/24: top 78%2024/25: top 82%No exams

Against North West

Expected standard, RWM50% · North West 63%Small cohort: 28 pupils in 2024/25 (under 30)
Higher standard, RWM4% · North West 6%Small cohort: 28 pupils in 2024/25 (under 30)
Reading score104 · North West 105Small cohort: 28 pupils in 2024/25 (under 30)
Maths score104 · North West 105Small cohort: 28 pupils in 2024/25 (under 30)
Show KS2 results by year

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

Expected standard, RWM
2015/16: 53% · 30 pupils · North West 55%2016/17: 76% · 29 pupils · North West 64%2017/18: 67% · 27 pupils · North West 68%2018/19: 53% · 30 pupils · North West 67%2022/23: 52% · 29 pupils · North West 61%2023/24: 50% · 30 pupils · North West 63%2024/25: 50% · 28 pupils · North West 63%76%50%No exams
Higher standard, RWM
2015/16: 0% · 30 pupils · North West 3%2016/17: 14% · 29 pupils · North West 7%2017/18: 4% · 27 pupils · North West 8%2018/19: 13% · 30 pupils · North West 9%2022/23: 7% · 29 pupils · North West 6%2023/24: 7% · 30 pupils · North West 5%2024/25: 4% · 28 pupils · North West 6%14%0%No exams
Reading score
2015/16: 100 · 30 pupils · North West 1022016/17: 108 · 29 pupils · North West 1042017/18: 107 · 27 pupils · North West 1052018/19: 102 · 30 pupils · North West 1042022/23: 105 · 29 pupils · North West 1052023/24: 108 · 30 pupils · North West 1052024/25: 104 · 28 pupils · North West 105108100No exams
Maths score
2015/16: 104 · 30 pupils · North West 1032016/17: 107 · 29 pupils · North West 1042017/18: 108 · 27 pupils · North West 1052018/19: 105 · 30 pupils · North West 1052022/23: 104 · 29 pupils · North West 1042023/24: 102 · 30 pupils · North West 1042024/25: 104 · 28 pupils · North West 105108102No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in90.3%
28 of 31 who put it first2014 · 80.6%2026 · 90.3%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st3128
2nd422
3rd230

Last distance offered: London only

Inspections · 2007–2024

  • Personal developmentGood
  • Quality of educationGood
  • Behaviour and attitudesGood
  • Early years provisionGood
  • Leadership and managementGood
  • SafeguardingEffective
  1. 2007Good
  2. 2011Good
  3. 2015Ungraded visit
  4. 2019Remains Good
  5. 2024All areas Good

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 2026202
Free school meals (past 6 years)26.7%
First language not English19.9%
SEN support11.5%
EHC plan5.8%
Absence (sessions missed)5.3%
Persistently absent pupils13.5%

Girls 46.6%Boys 53.4%

96.2% full · 210 places

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 1 Sep 2025 · 24 responses (12.6% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school100% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school100% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved91.7% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 91.7% not applicable100% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year87.5% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 33.3% not applicable93.7% agree
  • Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?0% yes
  • My child has SEND, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed · asked only of the 0% who said Yes above0% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child91.7% agree
  • My child does well at this school87.5% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing87.5% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school95.8% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school95.8% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development91.7% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent95.8% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher24.0
Pupils per adult9.9
  • Classroom teachers 6.4
  • Leadership 2
  • Teaching assistants 9
  • Other support 6.2

Teachers 8.4 FTE · Whole workforce 23.6 · 33 people

Financials · 2025/26

Income per pupil£7,259
Spend per pupil£6,845
Staff spend per pupil£5,473
Reserve per pupil£764
  • +£154,375revenue reserve
  • +£83,459in-year balance

Grants £7,095 · self-generated £164 · premises £306 per pupil