Blackburn with Darwen 2023 primary school league table

The table ranks each school in the borough by the percentage of pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of Key Stage 2.

Of the 64 primary schools in the borough, 53 have data available or applicable.

At 11 schools three-quarters or more of pupils achieve the expected standard, and at 37 at least half of pupils are where they should be upon leaving primary school.

The Department for Education does clarify that “school performance data for the 2022/23 academic year should be used with caution given the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected individual schools and pupils differently”.

Across Blackburn with Darwen, 60 per cent of pupils leaving primary school this year achieved the expected standard, in line with the national average, with seven per cent achieving a higher standard, one per cent less than England’s average.

The average reading progress score was marginally below average, while for writing and maths was marginally above average, but all in all, pupil performance in the borough matched England's average.

The Olive School, in Meins Road, Blackburn, is the best primary school in the borough, with 92 per cent of pupils hitting the expected standard, and 23 per cent achieving a higher standard. It also ranked in the top one per cent of schools nationally.

Its progress scores in writing and reading are above average, while in maths is well above average, and these great scores come despite 97 per cent of the cohort at the school speaking English as an additional language.

Smeena Riaz, principal at The Olive School, Blackburn, said: “I am incredibly proud of our children for making excellent progress in reading, writing and maths.

“For our pupils’ achievements to place The Olive School, Blackburn in the top one per cent of highest-performing primary schools in the country is testament to the determination and commitment of our talented pupils and staff, and the fantastic support from our families.”

The outstanding rated school’s score was almost 10 per cent clear of the joint-second placed schools, The Redeemer CE Primary in Jack Walker Way, and St Paul’s CE Primary in Bayne Street, Hoddlesden, which both achieved a score of 83 per cent.

Pupils at the Redeemer are well above average in reading and maths, while at St Paul’s are well above average in writing.

The lowest ranked school in the table is St James CE Primary in St James Crescent, Darwen. At the school, which is rated inadequate by Ofsted, only 19 per cent of pupils achieved the expected standard and ranked well below average in reading, writing and maths.

The top 10 primary schools in Blackburn with Darwen are: 

1. The Olive School
2. Blackburn the Redeemer CofE Primary
3. Hoddlesden St Paul's Church of England Primary School
4. St Paul's Roman Catholic Primary School, Feniscowles
5. Lammack Primary School
6. Brookhouse Primary School
7. Daisyfield Primary School
8. Turton and Edgworth CofE/Methodist Controlled Primary School
9. Turton Belmont Community Primary School
10. Cedars Primary School

Results for secondary schools in Blackburn with Darwen will be revealed next week.