St Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy is a mainstream primary school in Darwen, Blackburn with Darwen, for children aged 4 to 11. In January 2026, 37 of its 198 pupils (18.7%) were getting SEN support and 1 (0.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 4–11
- 198 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Blackburn with Darwen.
18.7% get SEN support
37 of 198 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
0.5% have an EHC plan
1 of 198 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia12
- Social, emotional and mental health11
- Speech, language and communication5
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream primary school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 4 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 198 (places for 208)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Vannessa Knowles
- Part of
- Romero Catholic Academy Trust
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 17.7% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Blackburn with Darwen
- School reference (URN)
- 150080
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Blackburn with Darwen council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Good, June 2016; school remains Good (January 2020)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in June 2016. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, January 2020).
Contact and getting there
Blackburn Road, Darwen, BB3 0AA
Loading the map…
Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- St Cuthbert's Church of England Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 0.2 miles
- Crosshill Special School Special school · Ages 5–18 · Ofsted: Good 0.4 miles
- Lower Darwen Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.8 miles
- Eden School Special school · Ages 8–16 · Ofsted: Good 1.1 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Darwen Vale High School Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 20.2%, EHC plans 1.8% 0.4 miles
- Avondale Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 16.3%, EHC plans 4.3% 0.5 miles
- Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 18.7%, EHC plans 5.4% 1.0 mile
All mainstream schools in Blackburn with Darwen SEND schools in Blackburn with Darwen
Questions about St Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
How many pupils at St Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 37 of the 198 pupils (18.7%) were getting SEN support and 1 (0.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at St Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (12 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (11 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (5 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at St Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at St Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy?
Through Blackburn with Darwen council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to St Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy?
You can ask for St Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does St Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is St Cuthbert's Church of England Primary School, about 0.2 miles away.
Where is St Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy?
Blackburn Road, Darwen, BB3 0AA, in Blackburn with Darwen.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.