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Academy sponsor led · Blackburn with Darwen

Darwen Vale High School

  • 11–16Ages
  • 1,039Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • 141321URN

Blackburn Road, Darwen, BB3 0AL · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jan 2024 Previous framework

Good
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Personal development
  • Leadership and management
What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
2.3per place
0.3 below Blackburn with Darwen median (2.5)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Blackburn with Darwen

528 applications for 233 places · 7th of 11 in Blackburn with Darwen
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
39.0of 90
9th of 12 in Blackburn with Darwen
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Overall effectiveness: Good · 30 January 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
AreaOutstandingGoodRequires improvementInadequate
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood

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
2.3applications per place, Year 7
0.3 below Blackburn with Darwen median (2.5) close to England median (2.2)

528 applications · 233 places offered · 209 named it first

  1. 2026 2.3; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.5
  2. 2025 2.1; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.4
  3. 2024 2.3; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.5
  4. 2023 2.2; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.2
  5. 2022 2.1; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.1
  6. 2021 1.6; Blackburn with Darwen median median 1.8
  7. 2020 1.8; Blackburn with Darwen median median 1.9
  8. 2019 2.0; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.2
  9. 2018 2.1; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.2
  10. 2017 2.5; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.2
  11. 2016 2.2; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.3
  12. 2015 2.7; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.4
  13. 2014 2.8; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.9; as the previous school
  • This school
  • Blackburn with Darwen median

Dashed bars: as Darwen Vale High School (URN 119763), 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 20262335282.32090.90
Sep 20252354862.12180.93
Sep 20242365312.32581.09
Sep 20232355162.22511.07
Sep 20222324842.12070.89
Sep 20212083321.61550.75
Sep 20202244121.81890.84
Sep 20191893832.01710.90
Sep 20181553252.11290.83
Sep 20171293172.51060.82
Sep 20161413122.21150.82
Sep 20151123032.7960.86
Sep 2014 *1584432.81480.94

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

163 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)39.09th of 12 in Blackburn with Darwen
Grade 5 or above in English and maths28%9th of 12 in Blackburn with Darwen
Grade 4 or above in English and maths54%
  • This school
  • Blackburn with Darwen median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.29
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)16339.028%54%–
2024/2521843.140%58%–
2023/2419242.543%58%−0.29
2022/2315843.941%63%−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

  • 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
Academy sponsor led
Phase
Secondary
URN · DfE number
141321 · 889/4004
Trust
Aldridge Education
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Capacity
1,200 pupils · 1,039 on roll
Free school meals
31.6% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 December 2014
Replaced
Darwen Vale High School (URN 119763)
Address
Blackburn Road, Darwen, BB3 0AL
Local authority
Blackburn with Darwen

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