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Local authority · North West

Schools in Blackburn with Darwen

  • 77State-funded schools
  • 56Primary
  • 12Secondary
  • 3Special
  • North WestRegion
Applications per placeCircle size: applications
First choice · secondary 2026
79%
5 pts below England (84%)
2,116 families applied
First choice · primary 2026
89%
3 pts below England (92%)
1,926 families applied
Applications per place · secondary
2.5
0.3 above England median (2.2)
Median school
New Ofsted report cards
16of 77 schools
Results by area

How hard is it to get a place here?

DfE · families living in Blackburn with Darwen
Secondary (Year 7) · Sept 2026
79%got their first choice
5 pts below England (84%)

2,116 applicants · 5.9% offered none of the schools they named

  1. 2026 79%; England 84%
  2. 2025 82%; England 84%
  3. 2024 77%; England 83%
  4. 2023 77%; England 83%
  5. 2022 79%; England 83%
  6. 2021 78%; England 81%
  7. 2020 78%; England 82%
  8. 2019 80%; England 81%
  9. 2018 78%; England 82%
  10. 2017 81%; England 83%
  11. 2016 75%; England 84%
  12. 2015 79%; England 84%
  13. 2014 79%; England 85%
  • Blackburn with Darwen
  • England
Every year as a table
EntryApplicantsFirst choiceOne of first threeNone they named
Sep 20262,11678.9%94.1%5.9%
Sep 20252,10982.0%95.4%4.6%
Sep 20242,15976.8%93.2%6.8%
Sep 20232,09576.9%94.4%5.6%
Sep 20222,12878.9%95.3%4.7%
Sep 20212,04378.1%93.5%6.5%
Sep 20202,05477.7%94.5%5.5%
Sep 20192,01579.6%95.4%4.6%
Sep 20181,94578.1%93.9%6.1%
Sep 20171,94580.9%95.1%4.9%
Sep 20162,02274.7%92.2%7.8%
Sep 20151,78579.0%94.8%5.2%
Sep 20141,97178.9%97.3%2.7%
Primary (Reception) · Sept 2026
89%got their first choice
3 pts below England (92%)

1,926 applicants · 2.1% offered none of the schools they named

  1. 2026 89%; England 92%
  2. 2025 91%; England 93%
  3. 2024 92%; England 93%
  4. 2023 92%; England 92%
  5. 2022 91%; England 92%
  6. 2021 91%; England 92%
  7. 2020 89%; England 90%
  8. 2019 90%; England 91%
  9. 2018 88%; England 91%
  10. 2017 87%; England 90%
  11. 2016 85%; England 88%
  12. 2015 86%; England 88%
  13. 2014 90%; England 88%
  • Blackburn with Darwen
  • England
Every year as a table
EntryApplicantsFirst choiceOne of first threeNone they named
Sep 20261,92689.3%97.9%2.1%
Sep 20251,86690.9%98.3%1.7%
Sep 20241,86791.6%99.6%0.4%
Sep 20231,91791.6%98.6%1.4%
Sep 20221,86091.3%98.6%1.4%
Sep 20211,82990.5%97.5%2.5%
Sep 20201,97888.8%97.4%2.6%
Sep 20192,02789.9%97.9%2.1%
Sep 20181,93888.4%98.0%2.0%
Sep 20172,04787.1%96.4%3.6%
Sep 20162,15885.5%96.2%3.8%
Sep 20152,07485.9%96.9%3.1%
Sep 20141,96389.7%98.3%1.7%

What has Ofsted found here?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Report cards 16 schools of 77 · since November 2025

  • Inclusion
  • Curriculum and teaching
  • Achievement
  • Attendance and behaviour
  • Personal development and wellbeing
  • Early years (12)
  • Post-16 provision (1)
  • Leadership and governance

One dot per school.

Overall grade from Ofsted's previous framework 47 schools · graded 2011 to 2024

  • Outstanding6
  • Good39
  • Requires improvement2
  • Inadequate0

Includes grades confirmed by a later ungraded inspection. Not comparable with report cards.

Graded 2024/25, no overall grade 14 schools

Key judgementOutstandingGoodRequires improvementInadequate
Quality of education374–
Behaviour and attitudes3101–
Personal development311––
Leadership and management383–

Latest report cards

Every new report card, month by month · RSS for Blackburn with Darwen

Secondary schools in Blackburn with Darwen

12 schools · Year 7 entry 2026

Change the order (visual only)

Sorted by applications per place for September 2026 entry, highest first.

Sorted by Attainment 8, highest first.

Sorted by the date of the latest Ofsted inspection, newest first.

Sorted by name.

Sources: DfE admissions (Sept 2026), KS4 results, Ofsted.
SchoolLatest OfstedApplications per placeAttainment 8FSM
St Wilfrid's Church of England Academy Faith Remains Good2023 3.5 applications per place 49.8 27%
Tauheedul Islam Girls' High School Faith Outstanding2022 3.4 applications per place 68.7 16%
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School Some aspects not as strong2025 3.3 applications per place 44.3 23%
Tauheedul Islam Boys' High School Faith Outstanding2024 3.1 applications per place 62.6 18%
Pleckgate High School Outstanding2024 2.6 applications per place 46.8 24%
St Bede's Roman Catholic High School, Blackburn Faith Graded · no overall grade2025 2.5 applications per place 45.4 21%
Darwen Vale High School Good2024 2.3 applications per place 39.0 32%
Witton Park Academy 2026 1.8 applications per place 39.9 42%
Blackburn Central High School Remains Good2022 1.8 applications per place 41.0 44%
Darwen Aldridge Community Academy Graded · no overall grade2025 1.7 applications per place 36.8 36%
Our Lady and St John RC High School, a Voluntary Academy Faith Requires improvement2023 1.3 applications per place 36.6 48%
Aldridge UTC Darwen 2026 no data 31.7 46%

Sources: DfE admissions (Sept 2026), KS4 results, Ofsted. FSM: free school meals.

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Primary schools in Blackburn with Darwen

56 schools · Reception entry 2026

Sorted by applications per place for September 2026 entry, highest first.

Sources: DfE admissions (Sept 2026), KS2 results, Ofsted.
SchoolLatest OfstedApplications per placeSATs standardFSM
St Stephen's Tockholes CofE Primary School Faith 2026 8.7small intake applications per place 10% 18%
Holy Trinity VC School Faith Graded · no overall grade2025 6.8small intake applications per place 62% 48%
St Cuthbert's Church of England Primary School Faith Requires improvement2024 4.1small intake applications per place 38% 34%
St Gabriel's Church of England Primary School Faith Good2024 4.1 applications per place 69% 11%
St Mary's and St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn Faith Remains Good2022 3.5 applications per place 63% 29%
St Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Faith Remains Good2020 3.5small intake applications per place 70% 18%
Daisyfield Primary School Good2023 3.3 applications per place 78% 20%
Wensley Fold CofE Primary Academy Faith Outstanding2023 3.3 applications per place 83% 10%
St James' Church of England Primary School Faith Graded · no overall grade2024 3.2 applications per place 50% 25%
The Olive School, Blackburn Faith Graded · no overall grade2025 3.2 applications per place 98% 4%
St Paul's Roman Catholic Primary School, Feniscowles, Blackburn Faith Standards maintained2025 3.1 applications per place 59% 6%
St Silas's CofE Primary School Faith Good2023 3.1 applications per place 59% 22%
Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy Faith Remains Good2023 3.1 applications per place 65% 9%
Livesey Saint Francis' Church of England School Faith Good2023 3.1 applications per place 60% 21%
St Antony's RC Primary School Faith Standards maintained2024 2.8 applications per place 50% 43%
Feniscowles Primary School Remains Good2023 2.7 applications per place 56% 10%
Lammack Primary School Remains Good2022 2.6 applications per place 81% 8%
Ashleigh Primary School Remains Good2023 2.6 applications per place 66% 15%
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen Faith Standards maintained2025 2.6 applications per place 70% 15%
Brookhouse Primary School Remains Good2022 2.5 applications per place 80% 19%
Hoddlesden St Paul's Church of England Primary School Faith Graded · no overall grade2024 2.5 applications per place 41% 2%
Holy Souls Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn Faith Good2023 2.5 applications per place 60% 19%
Blackburn the Redeemer CofE Primary Faith Graded · no overall grade2024 2.5 applications per place 85% 10%
Queen Elizabeth's Primary School 2026 2.4 applications per place 45% 14%
St James' Church of England Primary School Blackburn Faith Remains Good2022 2.4 applications per place 66% 24%
Turton Belmont Community Primary School Remains Good2024 2.3small intake applications per place 100% 3%
St Luke and St Philips Church of England Primary School Faith Graded · no overall grade2024 2.3 applications per place 46% 50%
Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn Faith 2025 2.2 applications per place 60% 26%
St Matthew's Church of England Primary School Faith 2026 2.2 applications per place 53% 40%
Blackburn St Thomas' Church of England Primary School Faith Remains Good2024 2.2 applications per place 72% 20%
St Barnabas and St Paul's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Faith Good2024 2.1 applications per place 70% 35%
Darwen St Peter's Church of England Primary School Faith 2026 2.1 applications per place 43% 36%
Roe Lee Park Primary School Remains Good2023 2.0 applications per place 66% 29%
St Aidan's Primary School - A Church of England Academy Faith Graded · no overall grade2025 2.0 applications per place 23% 55%
Griffin Park Primary School 2026 1.9 applications per place 75% 23%
St Michael With St John CofE Primary School Faith Remains Good2022 1.9 applications per place 69% 26%
Lower Darwen Primary School Good2023 1.9 applications per place 41% 20%
Cedars Primary School Standards maintained2025 1.9 applications per place 70% 21%
Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn Faith 2026 1.9 applications per place 79% 41%
St Anne's Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn Faith 2026 1.9 applications per place 59% 50%
Audley Infant School Remains Good2024 1.9 applications per place – 19%
St Peter's Roman Catholic Primary School, Blackburn Faith Graded · no overall grade2024 1.8 applications per place 56% 26%
St Alban's Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn Faith Graded · no overall grade2024 1.7 applications per place 62% 46%
Darwen Aldridge Sudell Primary 2026 1.7 applications per place 64% 50%
Intack Primary School Remains Good2022 1.6 applications per place 47% 41%
Meadowhead Community Infant School and Nursery Remains Good2022 1.6 applications per place – 39%
St Stephen's Church of England Primary School Faith Requires significant improvement 2026 1.6 applications per place 63% 26%
Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy Faith Graded · no overall grade2025 1.5 applications per place 37% 42%
Avondale Primary School Remains Good2023 1.5 applications per place 72% 28%
Longshaw Infant School 2026 1.5 applications per place – 43%
Shadsworth Infant School Graded · no overall grade2025 1.4 applications per place – 41%
Audley Junior School Remains Good2022 no data 73% 32%
Longshaw Community Junior School Remains Good2022 no data 67% 65%
Meadowhead Junior School Some aspects not as strong2025 no data 40% 61%
Shadsworth Junior School Standards maintained2025 no data 60% 64%
Turton and Edgworth CofE/Methodist Primary School Faith 2025 no data – –

Sources: DfE admissions (Sept 2026), KS2 results, Ofsted. FSM: free school meals.

Special schools and other provision

9 schools