Aldridge UTC Darwen
Darwen, BB3 1AF · Blackburn with Darwen · secondary school
Check the area around this school
10th of 12 secondary schools in Blackburn with Darwen we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 0.6/10 against 412 of them, against 0.4/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 18 | 35% | 0.63 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 19.4 · 3 | 30% | 0.10 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.82 · 5 | 25% | 0.14 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 31.7 · 2 | 10% | 0.02 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Aldridge UTC Darwen overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 27.5% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 34.7, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.82 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (1.7 out of 10 against similar schools, 0.9 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in January 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Getting in
The published school roll is 275 pupils against a stated capacity of 300. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific support is available for students who are not meeting progress targets? How does the new Ofsted framework influence your current teaching priorities?
What Ofsted said about Aldridge UTC Darwen
Overview
The report describes a specialist studio school where pupils, many with prior negative educational experiences, find a "fresh start" in a "highly nurturing environment." Leaders demonstrate a "moral purpose" to help pupils reconnect with learning, resulting in improved confidence, behaviour, and engagement. While national examination data does not fully capture the progress pupils make from their low starting points, nearly all successfully move into education, employment, or training.
Strengths
- Inclusive practices are "firmly embedded," with leaders rigorously identifying barriers to learning and collaborating with external agencies to meet pupils’ needs.
- The "unique curriculum" is logically sequenced around career pathways, with many elements delivered by industry experts to build specialist knowledge.
- Staff build "positive relationships" with pupils, fostering a culture where students feel "known and understood" and incidents of bullying are rare.
- Personal development is prioritised, with pupils gaining a "secure understanding" of relationships, sex education, and internet safety.
- Post-16 students benefit from "industry-standard equipment" and work-based learning, producing high-quality work and demonstrating confidence in their specialisms.
Areas to improve
- Leaders should ensure staff use strategies to check what pupils know and can do "consistently well" so misconceptions are addressed before moving on.
- Leaders should ensure priorities are identified "consistently promptly" so that areas for improvement are acted upon swiftly.
- Leaders should continue work to remove barriers to attendance, ensuring the number of pupils attending regularly continues to increase.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with an "open culture" in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified and managed.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 36.4 |
| 2024/25 | 34.7 |
| 2025/26 | 31.7 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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