Darwen Vale High School vs St James' Church of England Primary School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in North West, England, 1.0 km apart, using official English 2025 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Darwen Vale High School
Darwen · Academy secondary · Ages 11–16
1,039 students
St James' Church of England Primary School
Darwen · Local authority primary · Ages 4–11
202 students
| Measure | Darwen Vale High School Darwen, North West | St James' Church of England Primary School Darwen, North West |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (England) | 42 Lower 50% | 28 Lower 50% |
| Region rank | #280 of 536 | #1686 of 2,286 |
| National rank | #2354 of 4,090 | #12640 of 15,697 |
| Sector | Academy | Local authority |
| Type | Secondary | Primary |
| Year range | Ages 11–16 | Ages 4–11 |
| Students | 1,039 | 202 |
| Pupils on roll | 1,039 | 202 |
| Free school meals | 31.6% | 25.2% |
| Capacity filled | 86.6% | 96.2% |
| KS2 expected standard (RWM) | – | 50% |
| KS2 higher standard (RWM) | – | 4% |
| KS2 reading progress | – | – |
| KS2 writing progress | – | – |
| KS2 maths progress | – | – |
| Attainment 8 | 43.1 | – |
| Progress 8 | – | – |
| Grade 5+ English & maths | 40.4% | – |
| Grade 4+ English & maths | 57.8% | – |
| EBacc average points | 3.60 | – |
| A level points per entry | – | – |
| town | Darwen | Darwen |
| region | North West | North West |
| Website | www.darwenvale.com | www.stjameslowerdarwen.co.uk |
The verdict
- •Darwen Vale High School scores higher on the Success Index (England) (41.9 vs 27.9).
- •Darwen Vale High School is the larger school with 1,039 students compared with 202.
- •Darwen Vale High School is a academy school while St James' Church of England Primary School is a local authority school, so fees and admission rules differ.
The Success Index (England) summarises published results and context from official data. It does not measure teaching quality or fit. Methodology.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Darwen Vale High School better than St James' Church of England Primary School?
On the Success Index (England), Darwen Vale High School ranks higher (41.9 vs 27.9 out of 100). The index is built from published results and context data, not from teaching quality or fit, so visit both schools before deciding.
How far apart are Darwen Vale High School and St James' Church of England Primary School?
About 1.0 km in a straight line, between Darwen and Darwen in North West.
Which has the better Pupils on roll?
Darwen Vale High School: 1,039. St James' Church of England Primary School: 202. Number of pupils in the latest school census.
How do Darwen Vale High School and St James' Church of England Primary School rank in North West?
Darwen Vale High School is 280th of 536 and St James' Church of England Primary School is 1686th of 2,286 among secondary schools in North West on the 2025 Success Index (England).