Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy

Term dates

This school's own term dates broadly match Blackburn with Darwen council's, so the council's dates are shown here. INSET days can differ, so check the school's calendar for those.

• Term
• Holiday
• INSET day
• Exeat

Admissions

Places for Reception and junior school are applied for through your home council, not the school.

Apply for a primary school place on GOV.UK

How places are given: as a Church of England school, it may give priority to children of that faith, then usually by distance. Check its admissions policy.

How many families applied: Reception

For September 2026, 28 families put this school as their first choice, and 29 places were offered. 28 of the families who put it first got a place (100%).

Offers made on national offer day, from the Department for Education. Waiting lists and appeals can change things later. The hardest schools to get into.

Before and after school

No club is registered with Ofsted at this school's address. Ask the school about breakfast or after-school care, or find clubs nearby.

Ofsted inspection

Latest graded inspection, 9 July 2025. No overall grade was given (Ofsted stopped giving one in September 2024).

Quality of education

Requires improvement

Behaviour and attitudes

Good

Personal development

Good

Leadership and management

Requires improvement

Early years

Good

Read the Ofsted reports

From Ofsted's published inspection data (Open Government Licence). Report cards and older grades use different scales, so they can't be compared directly.

About and location

Type

Academy

Phase

Primary

Ages

3–11

Pupils

203 (capacity 265)

Gender

Mixed

Religious character

Church of England

Diocese

Diocese of Blackburn

Academy trust

CIDARI EDUCATION LIMITED

Phone

01254703260

Address

St James Crescent, Darwen, BB3 0EY

Website

darwenstjames.co.uk

Official school record, including Ofsted reports