Blackburn Central High School
Blackburn, BB2 3HJ · Blackburn with Darwen · secondary school
8th of 12 secondary schools in Blackburn with Darwen we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 5.0/10 against 497 of them, against 3.0/10 nationally. 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 | 52 | 35% | 1.81 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2024/25 | 34.7 · 27 | 30% | 0.81 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.2 · 35 | 25% | 0.87 |
| Attainment 8 2024/25 | 41.0 · 25 | 10% | 0.25 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Get to know the school
How it's doing. In 2024/25, 34.7% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 41.0, against a national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.2 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than peers nationally who started from the same place. Ofsted rated the school Good in 2023. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (5.0 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.0 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom. Pupils can join Chess, Library, Debating, Culture, Film, and Fitness clubs, or play Badminton, Football, and Cricket. Trips include a visit to Chetham’s Library. An after-school club is available.
Getting in. The school has 984 pupils in a capacity of 900, meaning it is over capacity by 84. The school is over its stated capacity, so places are competitive.
Worth asking on a visit. How does the school manage the pressure of being 84 pupils over capacity? What specific support is offered to help pupils improve their Progress 8 scores? How does the after-school club operate for students who need care after the school day ends?
Written by AI from this school's published results, inspection record and its own website — not by Ofsted, the school, or SchoolsGPT staff. Every figure above comes from the sources on this page. Check anything that matters with the school.
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.
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