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Local authority · North West

Schools in Blackpool

  • 44State-funded schools
  • 31Primary
  • 8Secondary
  • 4Special
  • North WestRegion
Applications per placeCircle size: applications
First choice · secondary 2026
85%
close to England (84%)
1,503 families applied
First choice · primary 2026
94%
close to England (92%)
1,300 families applied
Applications per place · secondary
1.6
0.6 below England median (2.2)
Median school
New Ofsted report cards
8of 44 schools
Results by area

How hard is it to get a place here?

DfE · families living in Blackpool
Secondary (Year 7) · Sept 2026
85%got their first choice
close to England (84%)

1,503 applicants · 5.3% offered none of the schools they named

  1. 2026 85%; England 84%
  2. 2025 83%; England 84%
  3. 2024 85%; England 83%
  4. 2023 84%; England 83%
  5. 2022 89%; England 83%
  6. 2021 85%; England 81%
  7. 2020 81%; England 82%
  8. 2019 81%; England 81%
  9. 2018 83%; England 82%
  10. 2017 83%; England 83%
  11. 2016 75%; England 84%
  12. 2015 79%; England 84%
  13. 2014 85%; England 85%
  • Blackpool
  • England
Every year as a table
EntryApplicantsFirst choiceOne of first threeNone they named
Sep 20261,50384.9%94.7%5.3%
Sep 20251,61382.8%93.8%6.2%
Sep 20241,47184.9%94.8%5.2%
Sep 20231,50184.2%95.4%4.6%
Sep 20221,41889.5%97.0%3.0%
Sep 20211,49685.4%96.1%3.9%
Sep 20201,53881.1%91.9%8.1%
Sep 20191,53880.6%94.5%5.5%
Sep 20181,53083.4%95.8%4.2%
Sep 20171,41483.2%95.9%4.1%
Sep 20161,53475.0%91.1%8.9%
Sep 20151,46379.4%92.0%8.0%
Sep 20141,38885.1%95.7%4.3%
Primary (Reception) · Sept 2026
94%got their first choice
close to England (92%)

1,300 applicants · 1.2% offered none of the schools they named

  1. 2026 94%; England 92%
  2. 2025 94%; England 93%
  3. 2024 94%; England 93%
  4. 2023 95%; England 92%
  5. 2022 92%; England 92%
  6. 2021 93%; England 92%
  7. 2020 94%; England 90%
  8. 2019 93%; England 91%
  9. 2018 94%; England 91%
  10. 2017 94%; England 90%
  11. 2016 89%; England 88%
  12. 2015 90%; England 88%
  13. 2014 87%; England 88%
  • Blackpool
  • England
Every year as a table
EntryApplicantsFirst choiceOne of first threeNone they named
Sep 20261,30093.9%98.7%1.2%
Sep 20251,29993.5%97.7%2.3%
Sep 20241,36893.7%98.5%1.5%
Sep 20231,40094.7%99.5%0.5%
Sep 20221,36592.5%97.3%2.7%
Sep 20211,43892.9%97.9%2.1%
Sep 20201,44194.0%98.5%1.5%
Sep 20191,58992.7%98.4%1.6%
Sep 20181,65594.1%98.3%1.7%
Sep 20171,55894.5%98.7%1.3%
Sep 20161,63488.6%96.9%3.1%
Sep 20151,58490.0%97.8%2.2%
Sep 20141,64487.1%95.8%4.2%

What has Ofsted found here?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Report cards 8 schools of 44 · since November 2025

  • Inclusion
  • Curriculum and teaching
  • Achievement
  • Attendance and behaviour
  • Personal development and wellbeing
  • Early years (7)
  • Post-16 provision (1)
  • Leadership and governance

One dot per school.

Overall grade from Ofsted's previous framework 29 schools · graded 2011 to 2024

  • Outstanding2
  • Good23
  • Requires improvement2
  • Inadequate2

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

Graded 2024/25, no overall grade 5 schools

Key judgementOutstandingGoodRequires improvementInadequate
Quality of education–311
Behaviour and attitudes–41–
Personal development14––
Leadership and management–311

Not yet inspected (new or reorganised schools): 2.

Latest report cards

Every new report card, month by month · RSS for Blackpool

Secondary schools in Blackpool

8 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 George's School A Church of England Academy Faith Improved significantly2025 2.6 applications per place 55.4 34%
St Mary's Catholic Academy Faith 2026 2.2 applications per place 44.2 35%
Armfield Academy Good2023 2.2 applications per place 34.2 40%
Montgomery Academy Good2024 1.7 applications per place 40.9 37%
Unity Academy Blackpool Special measures Graded · no overall grade2024 1.6 applications per place 27.9 62%
Blackpool Aspire Academy Requires improvement2024 1.5 applications per place 37.7 67%
Highfield Leadership Academy Requires improvement2024 1.5 applications per place 35.2 56%
South Shore Academy Special measures Inadequate2023 1.2 applications per place 34.4 68%

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 Blackpool

31 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
Westcliff Primary Academy Remains Good2022 3.3 applications per place 79% 24%
Our Lady of The Assumption Catholic Primary School, Blackpool Faith Remains Good2023 2.6 applications per place 61% 17%
St Kentigern's Catholic Primary School Faith Standards maintained2025 2.6 applications per place 42% 24%
Bispham Endowed Church of England Primary School Faith 2026 2.2 applications per place 52% 33%
Marton Primary Academy and Nursery Remains Good2023 2.2 applications per place 59% 39%
Roseacre Primary Academy Remains Good2023 2.2 applications per place 57% 44%
Christ The King Catholic Academy Faith Remains Good2022 2.1 applications per place 52% 35%
St. Bernadette's Catholic Primary School Faith Remains Good2022 2.1 applications per place – 18%
St John Vianney's Catholic Primary School, Blackpool Faith Good2023 2.0 applications per place 80% 24%
Blackpool St Nicholas CofE Primary School Faith 2026 2.0 applications per place 75% 13%
Holy Family Catholic Primary School Faith Remains Good2021 2.0 applications per place 73% 23%
Moor Park Primary School Remains Good · concerns noted2023 1.9 applications per place 44% 38%
St Teresa's Catholic Primary School Faith Standards maintained2025 1.9 applications per place 43% 25%
Anchorsholme Primary Academy Graded · no overall grade2025 1.9 applications per place 53% 17%
Baines' Endowed Church of England Primary Academy Faith Graded · no overall grade2024 1.9 applications per place 65% 43%
Blackpool St John's Church of England Primary School Faith Graded · no overall grade2025 1.8 applications per place 77% 53%
Waterloo Primary Academy 2026 1.7 applications per place 70% 57%
Layton Primary School Remains Outstanding · concerns noted2024 1.7 applications per place 65% 41%
Hawes Side Academy Special measures 2026 1.7 applications per place 40% 39%
Norbreck Primary Academy Standards maintained2025 1.7 applications per place 47% 18%
Devonshire Primary Academy Graded · no overall grade2024 1.6 applications per place 47% 67%
Stanley Primary School Remains Good2023 1.6 applications per place 54% 26%
Mereside Primary Academy Remains Good · concerns noted2024 1.5 applications per place 18% 71%
Kincraig Primary School 2026 1.5 applications per place 79% 40%
Blackpool Gateway Academy 2026 1.5 applications per place 44% 69%
Boundary Primary School Remains Good · improving2022 1.4 applications per place 56% 66%
Thames Primary Academy Remains Good2023 1.4 applications per place 62% 62%
St Cuthbert's Catholic Academy Faith Remains Good2023 1.3 applications per place 66% 43%
Revoe Learning Academy Good2024 1.2 applications per place 46% 61%
Westminster Primary Academy 2026 1.2 applications per place 60% 71%
The Blackpool Sixth Form College Not yet inspected no data – –

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

Special schools and other provision

5 schools