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Academy converter · Blackburn with Darwen

Witton Park Academy

  • 11–16Ages
  • 1,243Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • 140879URN

Buncer Lane, Blackburn, BB2 6TD · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected Feb 2026

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
1.8per place
0.7 below Blackburn with Darwen median (2.5)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Blackburn with Darwen

393 applications for 219 places · 8th of 11 in Blackburn with Darwen
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
39.9of 90
8th of 12 in Blackburn with Darwen
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Report card · inspected 24 February 2026Published 5 May 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
AreaExceptionalStrong standardExpected standardNeeds attentionUrgent improvement
InclusionNeeds attention
Curriculum and teachingNeeds attention
AchievementNeeds attention
Attendance and behaviourNeeds attention
Personal development and wellbeingNeeds attention
Early yearsDoes not apply to this school
Post-16 provisionDoes not apply to this school
Leadership and governanceNeeds attention
  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Inspection history

  1. 24 February 2026
    Report card · 6 Needs attention
  2. 4 November 2021
    Ungraded inspection: School remains Good

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 entry
1.8applications per place, Year 7
0.7 below Blackburn with Darwen median (2.5) 0.4 below England median (2.2)

393 applications · 219 places offered · 67 named it first

  1. 2026 1.8; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.5
  2. 2025 2.0; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.4
  3. 2024 1.8; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.5
  4. 2023 1.9; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.2
  5. 2022 1.9; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.1
  6. 2021 1.8; Blackburn with Darwen median median 1.8
  7. 2020 1.9; Blackburn with Darwen median median 1.9
  8. 2019 2.2; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.2
  9. 2018 2.0; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.2
  10. 2017 1.8; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.2
  11. 2016 1.8; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.3
  12. 2015 2.4; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.4
  13. 2014 2.7; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.9; as the previous school
More applications per place than the Blackburn with Darwen median in 0 of 12 years.
  • This school
  • Blackburn with Darwen median

Dashed bars: as Witton Park High School (URN 119730), the previous school.

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.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20262193931.8670.31
Sep 20252214352.01010.46
Sep 20242614811.81130.43
Sep 20232564921.9910.36
Sep 20222414561.91120.46
Sep 20212424291.81450.60
Sep 20202194091.91020.47
Sep 20192164842.21050.49
Sep 20182274472.01220.54
Sep 20172153791.8970.45
Sep 20162203901.8800.36
Sep 20151724152.4890.52
Sep 2014 *2065642.71040.50

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

256 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)39.98th of 12 in Blackburn with Darwen
Grade 5 or above in English and maths40%6th of 12 in Blackburn with Darwen
Grade 4 or above in English and maths57%
  • This school
  • Blackburn with Darwen median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.70
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)25639.940%57%–
2024/2526240.337%57%–
2023/2423036.031%53%−0.70
2022/2325238.333%50%−0.70

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

School details

Type
Academy converter
Phase
Secondary
URN · DfE number
140879 · 889/4048
Trust
Achievement Through Collaboration Trust
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Capacity
1,230 pupils · 1,243 on roll
Free school meals
41.8% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 May 2014
Replaced
Witton Park High School (URN 119730)
Address
Buncer Lane, Blackburn, BB2 6TD
Local authority
Blackburn with Darwen

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources