This schoolOther secondary schools in Blackburn with Darwen
What did Ofsted find?
Ofsted data to 30 September 2026Inspection history
- 14 December 2022Ungraded inspection: School remains Good
- 15 November 2012Graded inspection: Good · as Blackburn Central High School, URN 134906
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 entry346 applications · 197 places offered · 150 named it first
- 2026 1.8; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.5
- 2025 1.8; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.4
- 2024 2.0; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.5
- 2023 1.5; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.2
- 2022 1.7; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.1
- 2021 1.6; Blackburn with Darwen median median 1.8
- 2020 1.6; Blackburn with Darwen median median 1.9
- 2019 1.7; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.2; as the previous school
- 2018 1.5; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.2; as the previous school
- 2017 1.7; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.2; as the previous school
- 2016 1.5; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.3; as the previous school
- 2015 1.6; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.4; as the previous school
- 2014 1.9; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.9; as the previous school
- This school
- Blackburn with Darwen median
Dashed bars: as Blackburn Central High School (URN 134906), Queen's Park Technology College (URN 119772), 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.
| Entry | Places | Applications | Per place | First preferences | First-pref. ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 197 | 346 | 1.8 | 150 | 0.76 |
| Sep 2025 | 202 | 365 | 1.8 | 163 | 0.81 |
| Sep 2024 | 197 | 393 | 2.0 | 164 | 0.83 |
| Sep 2023 | 206 | 310 | 1.5 | 143 | 0.69 |
| Sep 2022 | 203 | 336 | 1.7 | 148 | 0.73 |
| Sep 2021 | 174 | 275 | 1.6 | 121 | 0.70 |
| Sep 2020 | 168 | 271 | 1.6 | 124 | 0.74 |
| Sep 2019 * | 173 | 296 | 1.7 | 129 | 0.75 |
| Sep 2018 * | 171 | 260 | 1.5 | 119 | 0.70 |
| Sep 2017 * | 177 | 305 | 1.7 | 130 | 0.73 |
| Sep 2016 * | 180 | 265 | 1.5 | 130 | 0.72 |
| Sep 2015 * | 154 | 245 | 1.6 | 123 | 0.80 |
| Sep 2014 * | 153 | 288 | 1.9 | 115 | 0.75 |
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.) | 172 | 41.0 | 37% | 48% | – |
| 2024/25 | 176 | 41.0 | 35% | 56% | – |
| 2023/24 | 172 | 41.2 | 37% | 58% | −0.20 |
| 2022/23 | 173 | 40.5 | 34% | 54% | −0.48 |
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
- Blackburn Central High SchoolThis schoolThis schoolRemains Good20221.8applications per place 41.0Attainment 8
- 1.2 km · Blackburn with DarwenRequires improvement20231.3applications per place 36.6Attainment 8
- 1.3 km · Blackburn with DarwenOutstanding20243.1applications per place 62.6Attainment 8
- 1.7 km · Blackburn with DarwenRemains Good20233.5applications per place 49.8Attainment 8
- 2.4 km · Blackburn with DarwenSome aspects not as strong20253.3applications per place 44.3Attainment 8
- 2.6 km · Blackburn with DarwenGood20242.3applications per place 39.0Attainment 8
- 2.7 km · Blackburn with Darwen20261.8applications per place 39.9Attainment 8
- 3.3 km · Blackburn with DarwenOutstanding20223.4applications per place 68.7Attainment 8
- 3.3 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
- Academy converter
- Phase
- Secondary
- URN · DfE number
- 146936 · 889/4799
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Capacity
- 900 pupils · 1,015 on roll
- Free school meals
- 44.0% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Opened
- 1 October 2019
- Replaced
- Blackburn Central High School (URN 134906); Queen's Park Technology College (URN 119772)
- Address
- Haslingden Road, Blackburn, BB2 3HJ
- Local authority
- Blackburn with Darwen
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources