Lower Darwen Primary School Catchment Area
Lower Darwen Primary School is a community primary school in Darwen, Blackburn with Darwen , serving pupils aged 4-11, with 389 pupils, and a capacity of 420 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.
4-11
Age range
389
Pupils
420
Capacity
93%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2023
Lower Darwen Primary School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Lower Darwen Primary School?
The catchment area for Lower Darwen Primary School 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 siblings. Blackburn with Darwen publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
The catchment area for Lower Darwen Primary School is set by Blackburn with Darwen and reviewed annually. Children living within the catchment boundary receive priority consideration when applications exceed the number of available places.
Get an alert if Lower Darwen Primary School 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 →Lower Darwen Primary School: 420 places, 93% filled: nearing capacity
Lower Darwen Primary School has a published admission number of 420 places. 389 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 93%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 420, 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. 16.2% 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 →
Lower Darwen Primary School: School Information
- Full address
- Milking Lane, Lower Darwen, Darwen, BB3 0RB
- Local authority
- Blackburn with Darwen
- School type
- Community school
- Phase of education
- Primary
- Age range
- 4-11 years
- Free school meals
- 16.2% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 119120
Other Primary Schools in Darwen
If Lower Darwen Primary School is oversubscribed, these primary schools in Darwen are the next closest alternatives.
Ashleigh Primary School Catchment Area
Foundation school · BB3 2JT
Avondale Primary School Catchment Area
Community school · BB3 1NN
Holy Trinity VC School Catchment Area
Voluntary controlled school · BB3 2RW
Hoddlesden St Paul's Church of England Primary School Catchment Area
Voluntary aided school · BB3 3NH
St Stephen's Tockholes CofE Primary School Catchment Area
Voluntary aided school · BB3 0LX
St James' Church of England Primary School Catchment Area
Voluntary aided school · BB3 0QP
Nearest primary schools by distance
These are the primary schools closest to Lower Darwen Primary School 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.
Need help understanding catchment areas?
Frequently Asked Questions: Lower Darwen Primary School
What is the catchment area for Lower Darwen Primary School? ▾
The catchment area for Lower Darwen Primary School 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 siblings. 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 Lower Darwen Primary School oversubscribed? ▾
Lower Darwen Primary School is operating close to its capacity of 420 places (93% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.
What is the admissions policy for Lower Darwen Primary School? ▾
Admission to Lower Darwen Primary School is managed by Blackburn with Darwen. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.
What age range does Lower Darwen Primary School cover? ▾
Lower Darwen Primary School 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 Lower Darwen Primary School? ▾
Lower Darwen Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2023. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.