Graded inspection · Mar 2024 Previous framework
- Quality of education
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Personal development
- Leadership and management
This schoolOther secondary schools in Blackburn with Darwen
What did Ofsted find?
Ofsted data to 30 September 2026| Area | Outstanding | Good | Requires improvement | Inadequate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quality of education | Outstanding | |||
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding | |||
| Personal development | Outstanding | |||
| Leadership and management | Outstanding | |||
| Sixth form provision | Outstanding |
Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades
About these grades
Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.
How hard is it to get a place?
DfE · Sept 2026 entry357 applications · 115 places offered · 233 named it first
FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.
- 2026 3.1; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.5
- 2025 3.2; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.4
- 2024 3.2; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.5
- 2023 3.3; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.2
- 2022 2.9; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.1
- 2021 3.2; Blackburn with Darwen median median 1.8
- 2020 3.1; Blackburn with Darwen median median 1.9
- 2019 2.9; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.2
- 2018 2.4; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.2
- 2017 2.2; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.2
- 2016 2.3; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.3
- 2015 2.2; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.4
- 2014 2.9; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.9
- This school
- Blackburn with Darwen median
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council
How this is measured
Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.
| Entry | Places | Applications | Per place | First preferences | First-pref. ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 115 | 357 | 3.1 | 233 | 2.03 |
| Sep 2025 | 118 | 380 | 3.2 | 231 | 1.96 |
| Sep 2024 | 115 | 368 | 3.2 | 230 | 2.00 |
| Sep 2023 | 117 | 385 | 3.3 | 249 | 2.13 |
| Sep 2022 | 118 | 344 | 2.9 | 224 | 1.90 |
| Sep 2021 | 119 | 383 | 3.2 | 247 | 2.08 |
| Sep 2020 | 120 | 366 | 3.1 | 242 | 2.02 |
| Sep 2019 | 121 | 351 | 2.9 | 249 | 2.06 |
| Sep 2018 | 124 | 292 | 2.4 | 220 | 1.77 |
| Sep 2017 | 118 | 259 | 2.2 | 172 | 1.46 |
| Sep 2016 | 118 | 269 | 2.3 | 177 | 1.50 |
| Sep 2015 | 116 | 250 | 2.2 | 166 | 1.43 |
| Sep 2014 | 97 | 276 | 2.9 | 148 | 1.53 |
How did pupils do at GCSE?
DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisionalEvery year as a table
| Year | Pupils | Attainment 8 | 5+ Eng & maths | 4+ Eng & maths | Progress 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 (prov.) | 120 | 62.6 | 84% | 91% | – |
| 2024/25 | 131 | 62.5 | 81% | 89% | – |
| 2023/24 | 124 | 62.3 | 85% | 93% | +1.26 |
| 2022/23 | 134 | 62.1 | 84% | 93% | +1.47 |
Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.
Schools nearby
The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority
- Tauheedul Islam Boys' High SchoolThis schoolThis schoolOutstanding20243.1applications per place 62.6Attainment 8
- 0.4 km · Blackburn with DarwenRemains Good20233.5applications per place 49.8Attainment 8
- 1.3 km · Blackburn with DarwenRemains Good20221.8applications per place 41.0Attainment 8
- 1.3 km · Blackburn with DarwenSome aspects not as strong20253.3applications per place 44.3Attainment 8
- 1.4 km · Blackburn with Darwen20261.8applications per place 39.9Attainment 8
- 2.1 km · Blackburn with DarwenOutstanding20223.4applications per place 68.7Attainment 8
- 2.4 km · Blackburn with DarwenRequires improvement20231.3applications per place 36.6Attainment 8
- 2.5 km · Blackburn with DarwenGraded · no overall grade20252.5applications per place 45.4Attainment 8
- 2.9 km · Blackburn with DarwenOutstanding20242.6applications per place 46.8Attainment 8
- 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.
School details
- Type
- Free schools
- Phase
- Secondary
- URN · DfE number
- 138220 · 889/4000
- Trust
- Star Academies
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Religious character
- Muslim
- Capacity
- 800 pupils · 746 on roll
- Free school meals
- 18.3% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Opened
- 28 August 2012
- Address
- Sumner Street, Blackburn, BB2 2LD
- Local authority
- Blackburn with Darwen
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources