SchoolScoresCrosshill Special School
Special academy · All-through, ages 5 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form
Part of OAK LEARNING PARTNERSHIP
Salisbury Road, Darwen, BB3 1HZ
01254 667713 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 23 November 2021.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth form | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
14 pupils in this year group.
86% — 2 points below the Blackburn with Darwen average, and 6 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Blackburn with Darwen | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 86% | 88% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 7% | 17% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | 12% | 13% |
| Further education college | 36% | 52% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 0% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 0% | 2% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 100% | 86% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Blackburn with Darwen. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
Pupils, staff and SEND
This is a special school for children with an education, health and care plan (EHCP). Places are arranged through the council's SEND team, not the normal admissions round. It caters for: Moderate learning difficulties.
| Pupils | This school | Blackburn with Darwen | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years | 50.3% | 49.4%* | 51.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan | 98.9% | 99.6%* | 99.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support | 1.1% | 0.4%* | 0.5% |
| English as an additional language | 28.6% | 27.0%* | 14.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) | 9.9% | 12.6%* | 12.8% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) | 33.3% | 37.4%* | 35.3% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 5.7 | 15.1 | 12.3 |
| Pupils suspended at least once | 4.0% | 7.2% | 5.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Pupils per teacher | 7.8 | 7.1 | 6.6 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) | 3.0 | 2.3 | 2.3 |
| Teachers who left during the year | 14.6% | 12.2%* | 14.3%* |
Comparisons are with special schools. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby special schools
- Eden School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 8% grade 5+ English and maths
- Aurora Woodlands School 1.7 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2025)
- Newfield School 2.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Crosshill Special School's Ofsted rating?
Crosshill Special School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 23 November 2021.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 146899.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.