St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen
Limes Avenue, Darwen, BB3 2SGOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen is a primary school in Darwen for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 88 schools in Blackburn with Darwen. It ranks 2nd of 14 primary schools in Darwen. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in October 2015.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 7 October 2015, report published 9 November 2015
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 14 January 2025
Pupils appreciate all the qualities of St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School. They feel happy and safe. Staff take time to get to know pupils and their families well. They genuinely care about pupils and their well-being. Pupils know they can talk to adults about any worries or concerns that they may have. The school has high aspirations for all pupils to achieve well. From their varied starting points, most pupils realise these. Effective improvements to the curriculum are having a positive impact. Pupils behave well. They are highly respectful to staff, visitors and each other. Pupils learn how to build strong relationships with others. They show kindness towards their peers and staff. They are considerate of others' needs. In the early years, children share and take turns well. Pupils enjoy a range of clubs, such as choir and dodgeball, in which they further develop their interests. Pupils enjoy taking on additional responsibilities in school. This includes roles such as chaplains, school council representatives and acting as buddies to younger pupils. These support pupils' understanding of responsibility and pride in contributing to the school community.
What the school should improve
- Some teachers do not check pupils' learning as effectively as they should. On occasion, this leads to missed opportunities to address misconceptions or extend learning when pupils are ready. The school should ensure teachers are equipped to systematically assess pupils' understanding to help them revisit or advance their learning as needed.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
23 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
165 pupils on roll, with places for 210
Schools near St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holy Trinity VC School | 0.4 miles | Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement to good | 62% met the expected standard |
| Darwen St Peter's Church of England Primary School | 0.6 miles | Report card: Expected standard to strong standard | 43% met the expected standard |
| Ashleigh Primary School | 0.6 miles | Ofsted: Good | 66% met the expected standard |
| Darwen Aldridge Sudell Primary | 0.7 miles | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | 64% met the expected standard |
| Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy | 0.9 miles | Ofsted: Good | 65% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Voluntary aided school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Roman Catholic
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mrs Vannessa Knowles
- Phone
- 01254706264
- Address
- Limes Avenue, Darwen, BB3 2SG
- Local authority
- Blackburn with Darwen
- URN
- 119667
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.