Darwen’s state schools get lower results than 93% of towns in England
In GCSE English and maths, 25% of pupils in Darwen reached grade 5 or above, below both Lancashire’s towns (39%) and towns in England (45%). 15 state-funded schools are located in Darwen’s built-up area. Darwen grades D for schools, on Department for Education Key Stage 2 and GCSE results. Ofsted is shown, not graded.
Darwen’s secondary results beat 4% of English towns; its primary results beat 18%. 54% of the large town’s 11-year-olds meet the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, against 62% at the average school in England and 60% across Blackburn with Darwen. The spread between primaries is wide: 69% at St Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy, 27% at Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy. Every school’s result ↓
One trust runs much of it
8 of Darwen’s 15 state schools belong to 4 academy trusts. Aldridge Education runs 4 of them, including Darwen Aldridge Community and Darwen Vale High: 2,075 of the 2,075 secondary pupils. Who runs them ↓
Written from the Department for Education and Ofsted data on this page.
School Grade
Darwen grades D for schools
Against every town in England with results; Wales publishes none.
Primary: reading, writing and maths at 11 (54% meet the standard)Better than 18% of towns in England
Secondary: Attainment 8 and grade 5+ English and maths (37.9 and 25%)Better than 4% of towns in England
Each of Darwen’s 10 primaries: % meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (2023–25)
England’s average schoolBlackburn with Darwen’s average school
The primary figure: 10 primaries in the town, 962 pupils in results over three years. The secondary figure: 2 secondaries in the town, 331 pupils in results. Mainstream state schools only (grammar schools included); special schools, alternative provision, nurseries and 16–19 colleges are listed below but not graded. Each school’s results are compared with every school in England, then weighted by its pupils.
Map
Where Darwen’s 15 state schools are
Each school at its address, coloured by its own letter and sized by pupils. Open a school for its own page. The dashed shape is Darwen’s built-up area.
PrimarySecondary (named)Special, nursery, 16–19Size: pupilsABCDNo letter
Most schools give places by distance once siblings are in, so the schools nearest a home matter more than any league table. The 2 secondaries are named.
Results and intake
Which schools do better than their intake suggests
Schools with more pupils on free school meals tend to get lower results. The dashed line is the typical school in England for each level of free school meals; the band holds the middle two-thirds. A dot above the band is doing better than schools like it.
Primaries: KS2 reading, writing and maths against free school meals
The share of pupils on free school meals runs from 9% at Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy to 50% at Darwen Aldridge Sudell Primary. Against schools with the same intake, Avondale Primary School does best: 68% with 28% on free school meals, where a typical school would reach 61%. 4 of 10 primaries are above the line.
Free school meals: pupils eligible now, DfE January 2026 census. The typical-school line is a straight-line fit across every graded school in England. It describes; it doesn’t grade: the School Grade uses results alone.
Getting a place
How school places work in Darwen
Blackburn with Darwen Council handles applications for every state school in Darwen, academies included. You apply to the council where you live, even for a school in another area.
Secondary (starting at 11)Apply by 31 October of Year 6. Offers on 1 March.
Primary (starting in Reception)Apply by 15 January before the September your child starts. Offers on 16 April.
Moving mid-yearApply to the council for an in-year place; it tells you which schools have room.
When a school is full
Every school publishes its admissions rules. Children in care come first, then, at most schools, brothers and sisters of current pupils, then those who live nearest. 7 of Darwen’s 12 mainstream schools have a religious character; some of them give priority by church attendance, so check each school’s rules. Infant classes are limited to 30 by law. If you’re refused a place, you can appeal to an independent panel.
Pupils on roll as a share of the school’s official capacity. The black tick is 100%.
Darwen, St Barnabas99%
Avondale95%
St Edward's95%
Ashleigh93%
Darwen Vale High87%
St Cuthbert's82%
Darwen Aldridge Sudell80%
St Joseph's Roman79%
Darwen St James incl. nursery77%
Darwen St Peter's76%
Show all 12 schools
Darwen Aldridge Community65%
Holy Trinity VC28%
DfE register of schools (GIAS), January 2026 census. Capacity often excludes a nursery class, so a school with a nursery can show over 100%.
The schools
15 state schools in Darwen
Each school’s own letter compares its results with every state school in England of the same phase: Key Stage 2 for primaries, GCSEs for secondaries. Open a school for its results, how its letter is worked out, Ofsted and a map.
Letters of Darwen’s schoolsA0B4C2D63 without a letter
Key result: Attainment 8 and grade 5+ English and maths (GCSEs, 2025/26 provisional) for secondaries; the share meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (KS2, DfE’s three-year average) for primaries. Pupils: the January 2026 school census. No letter: an infant or first school (no KS2 tests), a new school, a small cohort DfE suppresses, or a special school, nursery or college. Independent schools aren’t included.
Ofsted
Ofsted report cards
Each school’s latest inspection; report cards replace one-word judgements as schools are re-inspected.
Good 2Report card 3Requires improvement 1Ungraded inspection only 9
Ofsted stopped giving one-word judgements in 2024. Until a school is re-inspected, its last overall judgement is its most recent single grade; a school judged years ago may have changed a lot since.
Since November 2025 Ofsted gives each area of a school one of five grades (exceptional, strong standard, expected standard, needs attention, urgent improvement) and says whether safeguarding is met, instead of one overall word. 3 of Darwen’s 15 state schools have a report card so far; the others show their last inspection under the old framework. Ofsted is never part of the School Grade.
Academies are state schools run by a trust rather than the council: the trust employs the staff and can set its own curriculum and term dates. Admissions still go through the council.
Cidari Education LimitedDarwen, St Barnabas, Darwen St James
2
410
BD−
Romero Catholic Academy TrustSt Edward's
1
198
B+
Oak Learning PartnershipCrosshill Special
1
183
—
Blackburn with Darwen CouncilAvondale, Darwen St Peter's, Ashleigh, St Cuthbert's, St Joseph's Roman, Holy Trinity VC, Turncroft Nursery
7
1,386
B+CB+D−C−D
After 16
Where Darwen’s teenagers go at 16
In England young people stay in education or training until 18: a sixth form, a college, or an apprenticeship.
1 of Darwen’s 2 state secondaries has a sixth form: Darwen Aldridge Community. The nearest college is Blackburn College, a further-education college 3.6 miles away.
Runshaw CollegeFurther-education college · PR25 3DQ
9.2 mi
Special needs
Special schools and alternative provision in Darwen
Darwen has 1 special school (Crosshill Special: 183 pupils). A special-school place isn’t applied for like a mainstream one: for a child with an education, health and care plan (EHCP), Blackburn with Darwen Council names the school in the plan, after asking the family’s preference. These schools have no letter, because their results don’t compare with mainstream schools’. Their cards ↑
Blackburn with Darwen Council’s SEND Local Offer lists support beyond these schools.
Towns its size
221st of 230 English towns of 20,000 to 38,000
Ranked by School Grade, best first: the towns either side of Darwen, and the top and bottom of the group.
Brinscall 1 school · uses schools within 3 km · 4.2 mi
A−
66%
—
Oswaldtwistle 8 schools · uses schools within 3 km · 4.2 mi
C−
59%
41.2
Edgworth 1 school · uses schools within 3 km · 4.6 mi
B+
75%
44
Rishton 4 schools · uses schools within 3 km · 5.3 mi
C
61%
41.1
Church 2 schools · uses schools within 3 km · 5.5 mi
D
52%
41.9
Brinscall has the best-graded schools nearby (A−). Small places often use the schools within 3 km, so neighbours can share schools.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
•
Expected standard at Key Stage 2. The share of 11-year-olds who reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths together, in tests and teacher assessment at the end of primary school. We use DfE’s three-year average (2023–2025) to steady small schools.
•
Higher standard. The share working at greater depth in all three. In Darwen: 6% (England’s average school: 8%).
•
Attainment 8. A pupil’s GCSE grades across eight subjects, with English and maths counted twice, added up. 50 is roughly a grade 5 in every subject.
•
Grade 5+ in English and maths. A strong pass in both. Grade 4 is a standard pass.
•
Provisional. 2025/26 GCSE figures are DfE’s first release; revised figures follow in February, usually within a point.
•
Progress 8. Not shown: there is none for 2025/26, because these pupils sat no KS2 tests in 2020 (Covid).
•
Free school meals. Pupils eligible for free school meals now, from the January census: the usual measure of how many pupils come from low-income homes.
•
Independent schools. Not included: they publish no results comparable with state schools’.
Questions about schools in Darwen
Are schools in Darwen good?
Darwen’s state schools earn a D against schools across England: primary results beat 18% of towns in England; secondary results beat 4% of towns in England, on Department for Education Key Stage 2 and GCSE results. School places are handled by Blackburn with Darwen council.
What is the best secondary school in Darwen?
On 2025/26 GCSE results, Darwen Vale High School: Attainment 8 of 39 and 28% with grade 5+ in English and maths, against 47.3 at the average school in England. Results are one measure; distance decides most places.
What is the best primary school in Darwen?
On Key Stage 2 results over 2023–25, St Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy: 69% of pupils meet the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, against 62% at the average school in England.
Do Darwen secondary schools have sixth forms?
1 of 2 do.
How do I apply for a school place in Darwen?
Through Blackburn with Darwen Council, for every state school including academies. Secondary applications close on 31 October (offers 1 March); primary on 15 January (offers 16 April).
How many state schools are in Darwen?
15 open state-funded schools are located in Darwen’s built-up area: 10 primary, 2 secondary and 3 other (special schools, alternative provision, nurseries and 16–19). Independent schools aren’t included.
Sources: DfE Get Information about Schools (16 October 2026), Key Stage 2 performance tables (2023–2025, three-year average) and Key Stage 4 (2025/26, provisional); Ofsted state-funded school inspections as at 30 September 2026 · DfE Get Information about Schools (16 October 2026), further-education and sixth-form colleges · TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranked against UK towns only. All under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
