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catchment.school

Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy Catchment Area

Reviewed by the catchment.school editorial team · Last updated 15 March 2026

Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy is an academy converter primary school in Darwen, Blackburn with Darwen , serving pupils aged 4-11, with 205 pupils, and a capacity of 210 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.

4-11

Age range

205

Pupils

210

Capacity

98%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2017

Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy?

The catchment area for Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy is the geographic zone Blackburn with Darwen uses to prioritise admissions when this primary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and, in most years, faith-based criteria. Blackburn with Darwen publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Admission to Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy is managed by Blackburn with Darwen and typically includes both faith criteria and catchment area proximity. The weighting given to each criterion depends on the school's published oversubscription policy, which is reviewed annually.

Operating near capacity: 98% of places are currently filled. Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

Get an alert if Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy goes oversubscribed for 2027 →

The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Blackburn with Darwen before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.

Find Blackburn with Darwen catchment area documents →

Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy: 210 places, 98% filled: nearing capacity

Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy has a published admission number of 210 places. 205 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 98%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 210, Blackburn with Darwen's admissions team applies distance-based tiebreakers. Families within the school's historical catchment boundary are well placed, but a boundary check with the council is recommended before applying.

The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 9.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Darwen.

To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.

Blackburn with Darwen publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Find Blackburn with Darwen school admissions →

Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy: School Information

Full address
Knowlesly Road, Darwen, BB3 2JA
Local authority
Blackburn with Darwen
School type
Academy converter
Phase of education
Primary
Age range
4-11 years
Religious character
Church of England
Free school meals
9.8% of pupils
DfE URN
141483

Other Primary Schools in Darwen

If Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy is oversubscribed, these primary schools in Darwen are the next closest alternatives.

Other Church of England Schools in Blackburn with Darwen

Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy shares its religious character with these Church of England schools across Blackburn with Darwen. Faith criteria typically sit alongside catchment distance in each school's admissions policy.

Nearest primary schools by distance

These are the primary schools closest to Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.

Frequently Asked Questions: Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy

What is the catchment area for Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy?

The catchment area for Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy is the geographic zone Blackburn with Darwen uses to prioritise admissions when this primary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and, in most years, faith-based criteria. Blackburn with Darwen publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Is Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy oversubscribed?

Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy is operating close to its capacity of 210 places (98% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

What is the admissions policy for Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy?

Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy uses both faith criteria and catchment area proximity in its admissions policy. The weighting is reviewed annually and published by Blackburn with Darwen before each admissions cycle.

What age range does Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy cover?

Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy is a primary school in Darwen, Blackburn with Darwen, serving pupils aged 4-11. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

What is the Ofsted rating for Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy?

Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy was rated Good by Ofsted in 2017. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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