Graded inspection · May 2023 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 | Requires improvement | |||
| Behaviour and attitudes | Requires improvement | |||
| Personal development | Requires improvement | |||
| Leadership and management | Requires improvement |
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 entry195 applications · 155 places offered · 106 named it first
FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.
- 2026 1.3; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.5
- 2025 1.3; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.4
- 2024 1.4; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.5
- 2023 1.7; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.2; as the previous school
- 2022 1.6; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.1; as the previous school
- 2021 1.4; Blackburn with Darwen median median 1.8; as the previous school
- 2020 1.2; Blackburn with Darwen median median 1.9; as the previous school
- 2019 1.5; 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 1.6; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.2; as the previous school
- 2016 1.4; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.3; as the previous school
- 2015 1.5; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.4; as the previous school
- 2014 2.0; Blackburn with Darwen median median 2.9; as the previous school
- This school
- Blackburn with Darwen median
Dashed bars: as Our Lady and St John Catholic College (URN 119790), 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 | 155 | 195 | 1.3 | 106 | 0.68 |
| Sep 2025 | 144 | 189 | 1.3 | 96 | 0.67 |
| Sep 2024 | 166 | 239 | 1.4 | 103 | 0.62 |
| Sep 2023 * | 143 | 241 | 1.7 | 108 | 0.76 |
| Sep 2022 * | 169 | 263 | 1.6 | 129 | 0.76 |
| Sep 2021 * | 148 | 207 | 1.4 | 118 | 0.80 |
| Sep 2020 * | 156 | 186 | 1.2 | 88 | 0.56 |
| Sep 2019 * | 126 | 185 | 1.5 | 102 | 0.81 |
| Sep 2018 * | 122 | 180 | 1.5 | 98 | 0.80 |
| Sep 2017 * | 129 | 204 | 1.6 | 111 | 0.86 |
| Sep 2016 * | 148 | 205 | 1.4 | 111 | 0.75 |
| Sep 2015 * | 121 | 183 | 1.5 | 98 | 0.81 |
| Sep 2014 * | 185 | 374 | 2.0 | 167 | 0.90 |
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.) | 146 | 36.6 | 25% | 41% | – |
| 2024/25 | 178 | 37.2 | 23% | 42% | – |
| 2023/24 | – | ||||
| 2022/23 * | 160 | 31.2 | 14% | 29% | −1.10 |
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
- Our Lady and St John RC High School, a Voluntary AcademyThis schoolThis schoolRequires improvement20231.3applications per place 36.6Attainment 8
- 1.2 km · Blackburn with DarwenRemains Good20221.8applications per place 41.0Attainment 8
- 2.4 km · Blackburn with DarwenOutstanding20243.1applications per place 62.6Attainment 8
- 2.7 km · Blackburn with DarwenRemains Good20233.5applications per place 49.8Attainment 8
- 3.1 km · Blackburn with DarwenSome aspects not as strong20253.3applications per place 44.3Attainment 8
- 3.1 km · Blackburn with DarwenGood20242.3applications per place 39.0Attainment 8
- 3.7 km · Blackburn with DarwenOutstanding20242.6applications per place 46.8Attainment 8
- 3.8 km · Blackburn with Darwen20261.8applications per place 39.9Attainment 8
- 4.0 km · Lancashire20261.8applications per place 37.1Attainment 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 sponsor led
- Phase
- Secondary
- URN · DfE number
- 150308 · 889/4006
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Religious character
- Roman Catholic
- Capacity
- 821 pupils · 770 on roll
- Free school meals
- 47.7% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Opened
- 1 December 2023
- Replaced
- Our Lady and St John Catholic College (URN 119790)
- Address
- North Road, Blackburn, BB1 1PY
- Local authority
- Blackburn with Darwen
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources