Ashleigh Primary School
Ross Street, Darwen, BB3 2JTOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Ashleigh Primary School is a primary school in Darwen for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 88 schools in Blackburn with Darwen. It ranks 3rd of 14 primary schools in Darwen. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in October 2012.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 9 October 2012, report published 31 October 2012
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 1 March 2023
Pupils are full of smiles as they arrive at Ashleigh Primary School each morning. They are greeted warmly by the kind and caring staff. Pupils said that their lessons are fun and interesting. They enjoy the wide range of trips and visits that leaders provide, including visits to Paris and to London. Leaders set high expectations for pupils' behaviour and learning. Pupils strive to meet these aims. Pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve well. In lessons, pupils work very cooperatively. They listen carefully to their teachers. At breaktimes, pupils play happily together. They appreciate the wide range of activities that staff provide for them. Pupils said that they feel safe in school. They share any worries or concerns with their teachers. Leaders take effective action to deal with any rare incidents of bullying. Pupils are fully involved in school life. Older pupils take great pride in undertaking a wide range of leadership roles. For example, they organise a weekly assembly, awarding golden ties for good behaviour and celebrating pupils' birthdays. Pupils help to organise playtime games and activities. They enjoy helping out in the school office. Leaders ensure that pupils make full use of the school's lovely grounds, for example, growing fruit and vegetables in the school's garden.
What the school should improve
- A small number of pupils at an early stage of reading do not have sufficient time in school to practise their phonics by re-reading books with an adult. This means that these pupils do not develop fluency in reading as quickly as they should. Leaders should ensure that those pupils struggling to read with fluency benefit from very regular practice by re-reading of books with an adult, to develop their reading skills.
- In a small number of subjects, teachers do not plan enough opportunities for pupils to revisit and strengthen their previous learning. This means that in these subjects, some pupils' learning is not as secure as it should be. Leaders should ensure that teachers provide pupils with enough time to consolidate their knowledge of the curriculum in these subjects.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
29 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
220 pupils on roll, with places for 236
Schools near Ashleigh Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy | 0.4 miles | Ofsted: Good | 65% met the expected standard |
| St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen | 0.6 miles | Ofsted: Good | 70% met the expected standard |
| Darwen St Peter's Church of England Primary School | 0.7 miles | Report card: Expected standard to strong standard | 43% met the expected standard |
| Holy Trinity VC School | 0.9 miles | Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement to good | 62% met the expected standard |
| Darwen Aldridge Sudell Primary | 1 mile | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | 64% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Foundation school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mr Ian Matthews
- Phone
- 01254703171
- Address
- Ross Street, Darwen, BB3 2JT
- Local authority
- Blackburn with Darwen
- URN
- 119200
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.