Blackburn’s state schools get better results than 62% of towns in England
In GCSE English and maths, 49% of pupils in Blackburn reached grade 5 or above, above both Lancashire’s towns (39%) and towns in England (45%). 59 state-funded schools are located in Blackburn’s built-up area. Blackburn grades B for schools, on Department for Education Key Stage 2 and GCSE results: #21 of 65 in Lancashire. Ofsted is shown, not graded.
Schools with more pupils on free school meals usually get lower results. At Longshaw Community Junior School, 65% of pupils are on free school meals and 69% meet the expected standard; a typical school in England with that intake reaches 50%. Results and intake ↓
Written from the Department for Education and Ofsted data on this page.
School Grade
Blackburn grades B for schools
Against every town in England with results; Wales publishes none.
Primary: reading, writing and maths at 11 (63% meet the standard)Better than 58% of towns in England
Secondary: Attainment 8 and grade 5+ English and maths (47.1 and 49%)Better than 62% of towns in England
Each of Blackburn’s 38 primaries: % meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (2023–25)
Each of Blackburn’s 9 secondaries: Attainment 8 (2025/26)
England’s average schoolBlackburn with Darwen’s average school
The primary figure: 39 primaries in the town, 5,494 pupils in results over three years. The secondary figure: 9 secondaries in the town, 1,677 pupils in results. Mainstream state schools only (grammar schools included); special schools, alternative provision, nurseries and 16–19 colleges are listed below but not graded. Each school’s results are compared with every school in England, then weighted by its pupils.
Map
Where Blackburn’s 59 state schools are
Each school at its address, coloured by its own letter and sized by pupils. Open a school for its own page. The dashed shape is Blackburn’s built-up area.
PrimarySecondarySpecial, nursery, 16–19Size: pupilsABCDNo letter
Most schools give places by distance once siblings are in, so the schools nearest a home matter more than any league table.
Results and intake
Which schools do better than their intake suggests
Schools with more pupils on free school meals tend to get lower results. The dashed line is the typical school in England for each level of free school meals; the band holds the middle two-thirds. A dot above the band is doing better than schools like it.
Primaries: KS2 reading, writing and maths against free school meals
Secondaries: Attainment 8 against free school meals
The share of pupils on free school meals runs from 4% at The Olive School, Blackburn to 65% at Longshaw Community Junior School. Against schools with the same intake, The Olive School, Blackburn does best: 95% with 4% on free school meals, where a typical school would reach 68%. 20 of 38 primaries and 3 of 9 secondaries are above the line.
Free school meals: pupils eligible now, DfE January 2026 census. The typical-school line is a straight-line fit across every graded school in England. It describes; it doesn’t grade: the School Grade uses results alone.
Getting a place
How school places work in Blackburn
Blackburn with Darwen Council handles applications for every state school in Blackburn, academies included. You apply to the council where you live, even for a school in another area.
Secondary (starting at 11)Apply by 31 October of Year 6. Offers on 1 March.
Primary (starting in Reception)Apply by 15 January before the September your child starts. Offers on 16 April.
Moving mid-yearApply to the council for an in-year place; it tells you which schools have room.
When a school is full
Every school publishes its admissions rules. Children in care come first, then, at most schools, brothers and sisters of current pupils, then those who live nearest. 30 of Blackburn’s 52 mainstream schools have a religious character; some of them give priority by church attendance, so check each school’s rules. Infant classes are limited to 30 by law. If you’re refused a place, you can appeal to an independent panel.
Pupils on roll as a share of the school’s official capacity. The black tick is 100%; 12 schools are at or over it.
Brookhouse incl. nursery118%
Blackburn Central High113%
St Antony's incl. nursery112%
Blackburn St Thomas' incl. nursery110%
Griffin Park incl. nursery110%
Tauheedul Islam Girls' High108%
Roe Lee Park incl. nursery105%
St Paul's Roman103%
The Olive School, Blackburn101%
Witton Park101%
Show all 52 schools
St Gabriel's101%
St Bede's Roman100%
St Barnabas and St Paul's100%
Feniscowles99%
Pleckgate High99%
Blackburn the Redeemer99%
Queen Elizabeth's99%
Cedars incl. nursery97%
St Mary's and St Joseph's Roman97%
St James'96%
St Luke and St Philips96%
Lammack96%
Meadowhead Community Infant incl. nursery94%
Our Lady and St John94%
Audley Infant incl. nursery93%
Audley Junior93%
St Stephen's93%
Tauheedul Islam Boys' High93%
St Anne's Roman incl. nursery93%
Wensley Fold incl. nursery93%
Longshaw Community Junior93%
Daisyfield incl. nursery92%
St Matthew's92%
St Wilfrid's91%
Lower Darwen91%
St Peter's Roman91%
Holy Souls Roman incl. nursery90%
Shadsworth Junior90%
Shadsworth Infant incl. nursery89%
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar87%
St Aidan's87%
Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Roman86%
Meadowhead Junior84%
St Michael With St John83%
Livesey Saint Francis'82%
Sacred Heart Roman82%
St James' incl. nursery82%
Intack incl. nursery80%
Longshaw Infant75%
St Silas's74%
St Alban's Roman incl. nursery73%
Knuzden St Oswald's71%
DfE register of schools (GIAS), January 2026 census. Capacity often excludes a nursery class, so a school with a nursery can show over 100%.
The schools
59 state schools in Blackburn
Each school’s own letter compares its results with every state school in England of the same phase: Key Stage 2 for primaries, GCSEs for secondaries. Open a school for its results, how its letter is worked out, Ofsted and a map.
Letters of Blackburn’s schoolsA11B13C15D911 without a letter
Key result: Attainment 8 and grade 5+ English and maths (GCSEs, 2025/26 provisional) for secondaries; the share meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (KS2, DfE’s three-year average) for primaries. Pupils: the January 2026 school census. No letter: an infant or first school (no KS2 tests), a new school, a small cohort DfE suppresses, or a special school, nursery or college. Independent schools aren’t included.
Ofsted
Ofsted report cards
Each school’s latest inspection; report cards replace one-word judgements as schools are re-inspected.
Outstanding 4Good 12Report card 12Requires improvement 1Ungraded inspection only 30
Ofsted stopped giving one-word judgements in 2024. Until a school is re-inspected, its last overall judgement is its most recent single grade; a school judged years ago may have changed a lot since.
Since November 2025 Ofsted gives each area of a school one of five grades (exceptional, strong standard, expected standard, needs attention, urgent improvement) and says whether safeguarding is met, instead of one overall word. 12 of Blackburn’s 59 state schools have a report card so far; the others show their last inspection under the old framework. Ofsted is never part of the School Grade.
Academies are state schools run by a trust rather than the council: the trust employs the staff and can set its own curriculum and term dates. Admissions still go through the council.
Run by
Schools
Pupils
Their letters
Cidari Education LimitedSt Silas's, St Luke and St Philips, St Aidan's, Knuzden St Oswald's
4
845
DDD−D−
Star AcademiesTauheedul Islam Girls' High, Tauheedul Islam Boys' High, The Olive School, Blackburn
3
2,250
A+A+A+
Education Partnership TrustPleckgate High, Eden, The Heights Blackburn
3
1,405
B−
Qegs Blackburn Academy TrustQueen Elizabeth's Grammar, Queen Elizabeth's
2
1,260
CD
St Wilfrid's Church of England AcademySt Wilfrid's
1
1,483
B+
Achievement Through Collaboration TrustWitton Park
1
1,243
C
Oak Learning PartnershipBlackburn Central High
1
1,015
C
Romero Catholic Academy TrustOur Lady and St John
1
770
D
Wensley Fold Church of England Academy TrustWensley Fold
1
463
A
Blackburn with Darwen CouncilSt Bede's Roman, Lammack, Blackburn St Thomas', Roe Lee Park, St Barnabas and St Paul's, Feniscowles, Blackburn the Redeemer, St Peter's Roman, Cedars, St James', Audley Junior, St Stephen's, Lower Darwen, Intack, Longshaw Community Junior, Daisyfield, Audley Infant, St Michael With St John, St Matthew's, Brookhouse, Newfield, St Antony's, Griffin Park, St Paul's Roman, Shadsworth Junior, St Anne's Roman, St Gabriel's, Longshaw Infant, St Mary's and St Joseph's Roman, St James', Meadowhead Junior, Shadsworth Infant, Holy Souls Roman, Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Roman, Livesey Saint Francis', Sacred Heart Roman, Meadowhead Community Infant, St Alban's Roman, St Thomas's Centre, Longshaw Nursery, Ashworth Nursery, Brunel Nursery
In England young people stay in education or training until 18: a sixth form, a college, or an apprenticeship.
4 of Blackburn’s 9 state secondaries have sixth forms: Queen Elizabeth's Grammar, St Wilfrid's, Tauheedul Islam Boys' High and Tauheedul Islam Girls' High. Blackburn College, a further-education college, is in the city.
Preston CollegeFurther-education college · PR2 8UR
9.1 mi
Runshaw CollegeFurther-education college · PR25 3DQ
9.4 mi
Special needs
Special schools and alternative provision in Blackburn
Blackburn has 2 special schools (Eden and Newfield: 306 pupils) and 2 alternative provision schools, for pupils who can’t attend mainstream school for a time. A special-school place isn’t applied for like a mainstream one: for a child with an education, health and care plan (EHCP), Blackburn with Darwen Council names the school in the plan, after asking the family’s preference. These schools have no letter, because their results don’t compare with mainstream schools’. Their cards ↑
Blackburn with Darwen Council’s SEND Local Offer lists support beyond these schools.
Towns its size
22nd of 56 English towns and cities of 87,000 to 169,000
Ranked by School Grade, best first: the towns and cities either side of Blackburn, and the top and bottom of the group.
Oswaldtwistle 8 schools · uses schools within 3 km · 3.6 mi
C−
59%
41.2
Hoddlesden 1 school · uses schools within 3 km · 4.2 mi
D
58%
37.9
Langho 2 schools · uses schools within 3 km · 4.2 mi
B+
79%
45
Great Harwood 5 schools · uses schools within 3 km · 4.4 mi
C−
52%
43.8
Myerscough Smithy has the best-graded schools nearby (A). Small places often use the schools within 3 km, so neighbours can share schools.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
•
Expected standard at Key Stage 2. The share of 11-year-olds who reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths together, in tests and teacher assessment at the end of primary school. We use DfE’s three-year average (2023–2025) to steady small schools.
•
Higher standard. The share working at greater depth in all three. In Blackburn: 6% (England’s average school: 8%).
•
Attainment 8. A pupil’s GCSE grades across eight subjects, with English and maths counted twice, added up. 50 is roughly a grade 5 in every subject.
•
Grade 5+ in English and maths. A strong pass in both. Grade 4 is a standard pass.
•
Provisional. 2025/26 GCSE figures are DfE’s first release; revised figures follow in February, usually within a point.
•
Progress 8. Not shown: there is none for 2025/26, because these pupils sat no KS2 tests in 2020 (Covid).
•
Free school meals. Pupils eligible for free school meals now, from the January census: the usual measure of how many pupils come from low-income homes.
•
Independent schools. Not included: they publish no results comparable with state schools’.
Questions about schools in Blackburn
Are schools in Blackburn good?
Blackburn’s state schools earn a B against schools across England: primary results beat 58% of towns in England; secondary results beat 62% of towns in England, on Department for Education Key Stage 2 and GCSE results. School places are handled by Blackburn with Darwen council.
What is the best secondary school in Blackburn?
On 2025/26 GCSE results, Tauheedul Islam Girls' High School: Attainment 8 of 68.7 and 89% with grade 5+ in English and maths, against 47.3 at the average school in England. Results are one measure; distance decides most places.
What is the best primary school in Blackburn?
On Key Stage 2 results over 2023–25, The Olive School, Blackburn: 95% of pupils meet the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, against 62% at the average school in England.
Do Blackburn secondary schools have sixth forms?
4 of 9 do.
How do I apply for a school place in Blackburn?
Through Blackburn with Darwen Council, for every state school including academies. Secondary applications close on 31 October (offers 1 March); primary on 15 January (offers 16 April).
How many schools in Blackburn are full?
12 of 52 mainstream schools have at least as many pupils as places, on DfE’s January 2026 census. A full school still admits by its rules, usually distance after siblings.
How many state schools are in Blackburn?
59 open state-funded schools are located in Blackburn’s built-up area: 43 primary, 9 secondary and 7 other (special schools, alternative provision, nurseries and 16–19). Independent schools aren’t included.
Sources: DfE Get Information about Schools (16 October 2026), Key Stage 2 performance tables (2023–2025, three-year average) and Key Stage 4 (2025/26, provisional); Ofsted state-funded school inspections as at 30 September 2026 · DfE Get Information about Schools (16 October 2026), further-education and sixth-form colleges · TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranked against UK towns only. All under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
