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 | Good | |||
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good | |||
| Personal development | Outstanding | |||
| Leadership and management | Good | |||
| Early years provision | Outstanding | |||
| Sixth form provision | Good |
Inspection history
- 5 March 2025Ungraded inspection: Some aspects not as strong
- 25 September 2019Graded inspection: 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 entry551 applications · 167 places offered · 126 named it first
- 2026 3.3; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.5
- 2025 3.5; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.4
- 2024 3.6; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.5
- 2023 5.4; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.2
- 2022 4.8; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.1
- 2021 4.7; Blackburn with Darwen median median 1.8
- 2020 4.1; Blackburn with Darwen median median 1.9
- 2019 4.9; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.2
- 2018 5.1; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.2
- 2017 5.9; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.2
- 2016 6.8; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.3
- 2015 8.4; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.4
- 2014 8.6; 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
Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, 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 | 167 | 551 | 3.3 | 126 | 0.75 |
| Sep 2025 | 153 | 535 | 3.5 | 115 | 0.75 |
| Sep 2024 | 165 | 594 | 3.6 | 173 | 1.05 |
| Sep 2023 | 102 | 551 | 5.4 | 131 | 1.28 |
| Sep 2022 | 104 | 497 | 4.8 | 126 | 1.21 |
| Sep 2021 | 109 | 514 | 4.7 | 131 | 1.20 |
| Sep 2020 | 120 | 493 | 4.1 | 116 | 0.97 |
| Sep 2019 | 109 | 534 | 4.9 | 134 | 1.23 |
| Sep 2018 | 100 | 509 | 5.1 | 122 | 1.22 |
| Sep 2017 | 112 | 658 | 5.9 | 222 | 1.98 |
| Sep 2016 | 115 | 776 | 6.8 | 292 | 2.54 |
| Sep 2015 | 80 | 668 | 8.4 | 263 | 3.29 |
| Sep 2014 | 87 | 745 | 8.6 | 291 | 3.34 |
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.) | 135 | 44.3 | 35% | 58% | – |
| 2024/25 | 141 | 47.0 | 37% | 68% | – |
| 2023/24 | 140 | 46.7 | 44% | 66% | −0.22 |
| 2022/23 | 140 | 48.2 | 44% | 69% | −0.15 |
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
- Queen Elizabeth's Grammar SchoolThis schoolThis schoolSome aspects not as strong20253.3applications per place 44.3Attainment 8
- 1.1 km · Blackburn with DarwenOutstanding20223.4applications per place 68.7Attainment 8
- 1.2 km · Blackburn with DarwenRemains Good20233.5applications per place 49.8Attainment 8
- 1.3 km · Blackburn with DarwenOutstanding20243.1applications per place 62.6Attainment 8
- 1.6 km · Blackburn with Darwen20261.8applications per place 39.9Attainment 8
- 1.7 km · Blackburn with DarwenOutstanding20242.6applications per place 46.8Attainment 8
- 2.4 km · Blackburn with DarwenRemains Good20221.8applications per place 41.0Attainment 8
- 3.1 km · Blackburn with DarwenRequires improvement20231.3applications per place 36.6Attainment 8
- 3.2 km · Blackburn with DarwenGraded · no overall grade20252.5applications per place 45.4Attainment 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
- 141165 · 889/6001
- Trust
- Qegs Blackburn Academy Trust
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Capacity
- 1,000 pupils · 873 on roll
- Free school meals
- 23.0% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Opened
- 1 September 2014
- Replaced
- Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School (URN 119838)
- Address
- West Park Road, Blackburn, BB2 6DF
- Local authority
- Blackburn with Darwen
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources