SchoolScoresDarwen Vale High School
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of ALDRIDGE EDUCATION
Blackburn Road, Darwen, BB3 0AL
01254 223000 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 30 January 2024.
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 | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
85 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025.
Blackburn with Darwen comparisons use the 6 of its 12 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 6 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Blackburn with Darwen | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 5th highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Blackburn with Darwen. Higher than 19% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 69% | 77% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school 5th highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Blackburn with Darwen. Higher than 36% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 81% | 82% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 5th highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Blackburn with Darwen. Higher than 22% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 62% | 74% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 39 parents whose child had been bullied 3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Blackburn with Darwen. Higher than 69% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 56% | 50% | 50% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 75 parents who had raised a concern 5th highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Blackburn with Darwen. Higher than 26% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 59% | 67% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 5th highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Blackburn with Darwen. Higher than 28% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 69%said yes | 73% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Blackburn with Darwen figures pool parents at the Blackburn with Darwen schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
218 pupils in this year group.
40% — 4 points below the Blackburn with Darwen average, and 5 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Blackburn with Darwen | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 40% | 44% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 43.1 | 45.4 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.6 | 4.0 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
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.
158 pupils in this year group.
82% — 6 points below the Blackburn with Darwen average, and 10 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. | 82% | 88% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 1% | 17% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | 12% | 13% |
| Further education college | 73% | 52% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 4% | 2% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 89% | 82% |
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.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 233 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 209 |
| Of those, offered a place | 200 (96%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 528 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 0.9
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Blackburn with Darwen | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Darwen. Higher than 65% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 33.1% | 30.0%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Darwen. Higher than 19% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 1.7% | 2.3%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Darwen. Higher than 83% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 18.9% | 14.8%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Darwen. Higher than 21% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.8% | 31.3%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 1st lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Darwen. Lower than 22% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 10.2% | 8.3%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 1st lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Darwen. Lower than 23% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 29.1% | 23.9%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 1st lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Darwen. Lower than 86% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 4.1 | 23.0 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 1st lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Darwen. Lower than 81% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 3.2% | 8.1% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.33% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Darwen. Higher than 65% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 17.5 | 16.7 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Darwen. Higher than 31% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.0 | 11.3 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Darwen. Higher than 90% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 24.8% | 18.4%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * 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.
Nearby secondary schools
- Darwen Aldridge Enterprise Studio 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 6 expected · 28% grade 5+ English and maths
- Markazul Uloom 1.4 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 2 expected, 3 needs attention
- Noorul Uloom 1.4 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 0% A*/A at A level
- Darwen Aldridge Community Academy 1.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 24% grade 5+ English and maths
- Blackburn Central High School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012, before conversion), confirmed 2022 · 35% grade 5+ English and maths
- Our Lady and St John RC High School, a Voluntary Academy 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023, before conversion) · 23% grade 5+ English and maths
- Al Islah Girls' High School 2.0 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2025)
- Tauheedul Islam Boys' High School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 81% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Bede's Roman Catholic High School, Blackburn 2.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 54% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Wilfrid's CofE Academy 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 53% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Darwen Vale High School's Ofsted rating?
Darwen Vale High School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 30 January 2024.
How did Darwen Vale High School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 40% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 5 points below the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Darwen Vale High School?
69% of the 85 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025 said they would recommend Darwen Vale High School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Darwen Vale High School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 209 families put Darwen Vale High School as their first choice for 233 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 200 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 141321.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 1 January 2024 to 6 January 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.