Darwen Aldridge Community Academy
Darwen, BB3 3HD · Blackburn with Darwen · secondary school
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12th 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 — 0.5/10 against 604 of them, against 0.6/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 21.4 · 5 | 46% | 0.21 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.77 · 6 | 38% | 0.25 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 36.8 · 8 | 15% | 0.13 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Darwen Aldridge Community Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 23.6% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 36.5, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 in 2023/24 was -0.77, indicating pupils did worse than nationally matched peers. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (0.8 out of 10 against similar schools, 0.7 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
The school offers a KS3 art club and an after-school club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,036 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,600. 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 attainment gap with national medians? What specific support is available for students who need help reaching Grade 5 in core subjects? How does the after-school club integrate with the wider curriculum?
What Ofsted said about Darwen Aldridge Community Academy
Overview
This inspection found that while the school is a "welcoming" community where pupils feel safe and behave well, the overall quality of education "Requires improvement." Leaders have taken "effective steps" to improve attendance and behaviour since the previous inspection, yet inconsistencies in curriculum delivery mean some pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), do not achieve as well as they should.
Strengths
- Pupils benefit from a "broad and ambitious curriculum" with high expectations, particularly in the sixth form where students "achieve well."
- Behaviour is "mainly calm" and orderly, with sixth-form students acting as "exemplary role models."
- Personal development is strong, with pupils receiving "targeted support for their mental health" and valuable careers advice.
- Reading provision is effective, with pupils who struggle receiving "appropriate support from well-trained staff."
- Safeguarding arrangements are "effective," and staff feel the school is "considerate of their well-being."
Areas to improve
- Ensure the curriculum is "consistently strong across subjects" so that all pupils, including those catching up, build knowledge successfully.
- Provide staff with appropriate guidance to design learning activities, ensuring pupils with SEND learn the curriculum as successfully as others.
- Ensure staff consistently use assessment strategies to identify and address gaps in knowledge, particularly in key stage 4.
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 39.0 |
| 2024/25 | 36.5 |
| 2025/26 | 36.8 |
| 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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