“schools in Blackburn with Darwen”

Blackburn Road, Darwen, Lancashire, BB3 0AA

Inspection of a good school: St Edward’s Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn Blackburn Road, Darwen, Lancashire BB3 0AA

Rothesay Road, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 2EL

INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL

This is an average sized infant school for boys and girls aged between three and seven years old. It has 213 pupils on roll with 58 children in the nursery who attend part-time. At the time of the inspection there were 56 children on roll in the reception classes. The majority of pupils are from the immediate locality. Taken together, pupils’ attainment on entry is well below that found nationally. The proportion of pupils with special educational needs is in line with the national average. Six pupils have statements of special educational needs, which is more than the number found in most schools. Most pupils are of British heritage, but there are six pupils who speak English as an additional language. The number of pupils eligible for free school meals is well above the national average. The school is part of the Blackburn with Darwen Educational Action Zone (EAZ). The school was awarded national Beacon status for the standards in children’s writing achieved. This is an award,

Blackburn Road, Darwen, Lancashire, BB3 0AA

Primary Type of school Voluntary aided School category 4 °11 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 242 School The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs Margaret Leatham Chair Mrs Alyson Grundy Headteacher 1 December 2003 Date of previous school inspection Blackburn Road School address Darwen Lancashire BB3 0AA 01254 701616 Telephone number 01254 761805 Fax number

Turncroft Road, DARWEN, Lancashire, BB3 2BW

INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL

This average-sized primary school for boys and girls aged four to 11 years is situated in Darwen near Blackburn. The socio-economic circumstances of the area are about average. The school has 274 full-time pupils, 145 boys and 129 girls. A few pupils are from minority ethnic backgrounds though none are at an early stage of learning English as an additional language. Forty-three pupils (15.7 per cent) are on the register of special educational needs, which is below average; of these, three pupils have a statement of special educational needs, which is about average. Most of the pupils with learning difficulties have moderate or specific learning difficulties, emotional and behavioural difficulties or visual difficulties. Children’s attainment on entry to reception varies from year to year though it is overall about average. The percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is about 10 per cent, which is below the national average. Since the last

Lower Darwen, Darwen, Lancashire, BB3 0QP

INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL

The school serves a mainly urban area between Darwen and Blackburn. A majority of the pupils come from a large estate of local authority dwellings that are due for substantial refurbishment. About a third come from newer owner occupied housing. There are 208 pupils in all, with slightly more boys than girls . Fifty pupils are eligible for free school meals and this is higher than the average proportion. The school accepts pupils into the reception class in the September term before they are five. A majority of the children attend one of the several pre-school settings before starting school. On entry, their attainment is currently about average but, in previous years, it has been below average. There are very few pupils from ethnic minority backgrounds and even less with English as an additional language. There are five cared-for pupils. There are 67 pupils entered on the school’s register of special educational needs and this is more than the average. Nine of these pupils have a statement

Crosby Road, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB2 3NF

INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL

unemployment and almost half of the pupils are eligible for free school meals. The school is part of the Blackburn with Darwen Educational Action Zone (EAZ) and receives additional funding and support.

Duckworth Street, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB2 2JR

Information about this school

 An above-average proportion of students is from minority ethnic groups and speak English as an additional language.  Alternative courses are provided for a very few students at The Heights, A Free School in Blackburn, and at the Blackburn with Darwen Pupil Referral Unit.  The academy meets the government’s current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for students’ progress and attainment.  The Acting Principal has led the school since July2013.

Blackburn Road, Darwen, Lancashire, BB3 0AA

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SCHOOL

This is an average-sized primary school in Darwen near Blackburn. Whilst some pupils live in privately owned houses many live in housing association properties in and around the parish of the Sacred Heart and Saint Edward’s. There are 249 pupils on roll. Almost ten per cent of these pupils claim their entitlement to free school meals, which is about average. Parents of some other pupils who would qualify choose not to claim their entitlement. There are 27 pupils with identified special educational needs, which is also about average. Of these, an above average number, six, have a formal Statement of Special Educational Need. A few of the pupils speak a language other than English at home, which is Italian. All of these pupils speak English confidently and work and learn well alongside their friends. There is no nursery and, before entry to school, children’s educational experiences vary widely. Indications from the detailed assessment procedures after starting school

Blackburn Road, Darwen, Lancashire, BB3 0AA

Type of school Primary School category Voluntary aided Age range of pupils 4–11 Gender of pupils Mixed Number of pupils on the school roll 217 Appropriate authority The governing body Chair Mrs Margaret Leatham Headteacher Mr Gerard Keane Date of previous school inspection 22 May 2008 School address Blackburn Road Darwen Lancashire BB3 0AA Telephone number 01254 701616 Fax number 0 Email address st.edwards@blackburn.gov.uk

Holmbrook Close, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB2 3UG

INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL

Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Roman Catholic Primary School is situated in the town of Blackburn in Lancashire. The school is part of the Blackburn and Darwen Education Action Zone. Whilst most pupils live on the estate where the school is situated, some pupils live in the lower Darwen and Everton districts immediately close to the school. At present, all pupils are Roman Catholic and the school caters for pupils aged 4 – 11. There are 147 pupils on roll with slightly more girls than boys. The school is smaller than average. There is an above average number of pupils who claim free school meals. The number of pupils with special educational needs is average as is the percentage of pupils with statements of special educational need. There are no pupils at the early stages of learning English. Pupils enter the school with well below average levels of attainment, with skills in communication, language and literacy being poor.

Edgworth, Bolton, Lancashire, BL7 0AH

INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL

The school is situated in the rural village of Edgworth near Bolton, although the school is part of Blackburn with Darwen Education Authority. The school is a popular school with 222 pupils on roll. This shows an increase from the time of the last inspection when 205 pupils attended the school. Assessment data shows that children’s attainment levels when they start school are generally, but not always, above average. Most pupils are of white ethnic origin. The number of pupils eligible for free school meals is below the national average. The percentage of pupils identified as having special educational needs is well below the national average, with the percentage of pupils with statements of special educational needs below the national average.

Lower Darwen, Darwen, Lancashire, BB3 0RB

INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL

The school is situated in Lower Darwen, Blackburn. There is no nursery class, although most pupils have experienced some pre-school education in playgroups or nurseries. The number on roll is rising and the school building has been extended with additional classrooms. The school has a resource centre for pupils with hearing impairment. Currently there are 239 pupils on roll. The proportion of pupils on the school’s register of special educational needs is above the national average. Eighteen pupils have statements of special educational need. These are associated with hearing impairment, physical disability or Downs Syndrome. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is in line with the national average. Very few pupils are from ethnic minority groups. Five of the hearing impaired pupils are at an early stage of acquiring English. There is a wide range of ability on entry although overall

Tockholes, Darwen, Lancashire, BB3 0LX

INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL

This voluntary aided Church of England primary school has experienced a period of significant change with a new headteacher and two new teachers in just over two years. It caters for pupils from four to eleven years of age and is much smaller than other schools of its type, being the smallest in the local education authority. There are 48 pupils on roll, 29 boys and 19 girls in two classes. Most of the pupils live in the immediate area, which is a rural area but 19 travel from the nearby towns of Blackburn and Darwen. Although children enter the school with a wide variety of experiences, overall their level of attainment is broadly average when compared to children of a similar age.

Limes Avenue, DARWEN, Lancashire, BB3 2SG

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

25 June 2009 Dear Pupils Inspection of St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen, Blackburn with Darwen, BB3 2SG Thank you very much for welcoming my colleague and me when we inspected your school recently. We were impressed with your cheerful smiles and willingness to talk to us. Your views were very helpful. You told us that you enjoy school and this is shown in your good attendance. You enjoy learning to speak Spanish and having themed days, such as the Victorian day. You get on well with the adults in school and you feel able to talk to them if you have any worries. Please thank your parents for replying to the inspection questionnaire and let them know that we have taken their views into account. Your school provides you with a satisfactory education overall. Teaching and learning are satisfactory and you make satisfactory progress. Your headteacher has considered carefully what needs to be done to further improve your education and has started to make some changes.

Blackburn Road, Darwen, Lancashire, BB3 0AL · Part of Aldridge Education

Inspection of Darwen Vale High School Blackburn Road, Darwen, Lancashire BB3 0AL

Blackburn Road, Darwen, Lancashire, BB3 0AL · Part of Aldridge Education

Darwen Vale High School Blackburn Road, Darwen, Lancashire BB3 0AL

Blackburn Road, Darwen, Lancashire, BB3 0AL · Part of Aldridge Education

Inspection of Darwen Vale High School Blackburn Road, Darwen, Lancashire BB3 0AL

Addison Close, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB2 1QU

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

2525th. 25 September 2008 Dear Children Inspection of Ashworth Nursery School, Blackburn with Darwen, BB2 1QU There is a Nursery school on Addison Close, near the big school. It is called Ashworth Nursery. It is your nursery! I came to look at your nursery and to talk to you and watch you play and learn. I think that yours is a good nursery and that you are safe and enjoy yourselves there. The teachers are very friendly and help you to learn and play well. It was good to see you come in to the Nursery with happy, smiling faces. I know that you like coming here. Your mums and dads told us that they like the Nursery too. They like the way the teachers look after you and give you interesting things to do. I liked the way you play and the way you listen carefully when someone talks to you. I also liked the way that you ride the bikes outside. The teachers are going to make your nursery even better! They are going to help you choose

Limes Avenue, DARWEN, Lancashire, BB3 2SG

Limes Avenue School address Primary Type of school Darwen Voluntary aided School category Lancashire, BB3 2SG 4 to 11 Age range of pupils 01254 706264 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01254 776 896 Fax number 188 Number on roll Mr Tom McIver Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Mr Anthony Pearson Headteacher 1 May 2000 Date of previous inspection

Hoddlesden, Darwen, Lancashire, BB3 3NH

Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

14 November 2007 Dear Children Inspection of Hoddlesden St Paul's Church of England Primary School, Blackburn with Darwen, BB3 3NH. I really enjoyed my day in your good school this week. You were all most kind, welcoming, polite and helpful. These are some of the key findings about your school. What I really liked about your school was: