Schools by area › Blackburn with Darwen › St Matthew's Church of England Primary School
St Matthew's Church of England Primary School
Primary · Mixed · Ages 4–11 · Voluntary aided
Withers Street, Blackburn BB1 1DF · stmatthewsblackburn.com · 01254 291250
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Jan 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 53%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Blackburn with Darwen 63%, England 62%
- Demand for places
- 0.9
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 258
- 92% of 280 places
- Local authority
- Blackburn with Darwen
- Nursery class
- No
- Free school meals
- 39.9%
- First language not English
- 96.9%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, 30 families put the school first and 35 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Reception | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 35 | 30 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 35 | 30 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 40 | 40 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 40 | 44 | 1.1▲ | 91% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 34 | 33 | 1 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25, 53% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 3% the higher standard. Across Blackburn with Darwen it was 63%, and across England 62%.
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▼53% | 62% | ||
| ▼3% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●105 | 106 | ||
| ●104 | 105 | ||
| ▲109 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected St Matthew's Church of England Primary School on 6 January 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Needs attention
- Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard
- Achievement: Needs attention
- Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard
- Personal development and well-being: Expected standard
- Early years: Needs attention
- Leadership and governance: Needs attention
- Inspected
- 6 Jan 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Needs attention |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard |
| Achievement | Needs attention |
| Attendance and behaviour | Expected standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Expected standard |
| Early years | Needs attention |
| Leadership and governance | Needs attention |
Previously: Remains Good, ungraded inspection, Jul 2021
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
- Jul 2021Ungraded inspectionRemains Good
Before September 2019
Jul 2016Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good Safeguarding Effective Jan 2014Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement