St Barnabas and St Paul's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
Blackburn, BB2 1SN · Blackburn with Darwen · primary school
Check the area around this school
14th of 51 primary schools in Blackburn with Darwen we can score, 56 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 7.2/10 against 2,068 of them, against 6.0/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 70.0 · 65 | 40% | 2.61 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 7.0 · 51 | 25% | 1.27 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St Barnabas and St Paul's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 70.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 7.0%, matching the national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in September 2024. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (7.2 out of 10 against similar schools, 6.0 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join art clubs and attend an after-school club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 419 pupils against a stated capacity of 420. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the after-school club integrate with the main curriculum? What specific support is available for pupils who have not yet reached the expected standard in maths?
What Ofsted said about St Barnabas and St Paul's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
Overview
The report describes a school where pupils are “happy and safe” and enjoy “warm and supportive relationships with staff.” It highlights an “ambitious” curriculum and “strong” teacher subject knowledge, noting that pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, achieve well. The inspection judges overall effectiveness as ‘Good’, with ‘Outstanding’ personal development and early years provision.
Strengths
- Pupils demonstrate “positive attitudes” and are “extremely polite and respectful,” contributing to a “peaceful and focused environment.”
- The early years curriculum is “very well-thought-through” and delivered “exceptionally well,” helping children flourish academically and socially.
- Staff are “well trained” in phonics, delivering the programme “consistently well” and providing “timely extra support” to address gaps.
- The school offers an “impressive range of opportunities,” including clubs and trips, helping pupils develop into “well-rounded citizens.”
- Governors provide “effective support and challenge,” while staff value the consideration given to their “workload and well-being.”
Areas to improve
- In some subjects, the school has not identified “key vocabulary” pupils need to access the full curriculum, which “hampers pupils from building a secure body of knowledge.”
- Teachers must be clear about the specific vocabulary pupils should acquire to “make sense of their learning” and access complex texts.
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 63% |
| 2023/24 | 73% |
| 2024/25 | 70% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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