Pleckgate High School
Blackburn, BB1 8QA · Blackburn with Darwen · secondary school
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4th 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 — 4.8/10 against 895 of them, against 4.8/10 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 | 94 | 35% | 3.29 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 43.0 · 45 | 30% | 1.34 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.01 · 50 | 25% | 1.24 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 46.8 · 54 | 10% | 0.54 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Pleckgate High School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 47.1% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 49.2, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.01 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did slightly worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Its position is much the same whether compared with all schools or only those whose pupils have similar backgrounds (6.1 out of 10 against similar schools, 5.7 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Outstanding in July 2024.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join EcoClub and the Duke of Edinburgh Award, and play cricket, football, netball, or rounders.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,339 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,350. 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 improve their Progress 8 scores? What specific support is available for students aiming for higher grades in English and maths?
What Ofsted said about Pleckgate High School
Overview
Pleckgate High School is described as a place where pupils “thrive in a well-established culture of high academic expectations” and achieve highly across the curriculum. The report highlights a “harmonious and supportive environment” where pupils display “exemplary” behaviour and are strongly supported to develop “aspirational goals for their future lives.”
Strengths
- The curriculum is “broad and ambitious,” carefully ordered to enable pupils to build on prior knowledge and develop an “impressive understanding of each subject.”
- Staff provide “highly effective support” to pupils struggling with literacy, including swift action to address handwriting and reading gaps post-pandemic.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are accurately identified and “well supported,” enabling them to “progress well through the curriculum.”
- The school offers an “exceptionally rich and comprehensive programme of personal development,” covering health, online safety, and careers guidance.
- Teachers benefit from regular professional development and clear guidance, allowing them to design “highly effective lessons” and swiftly address misconceptions.
Areas to improve
- The report identifies no significant areas for improvement.
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 | 44.0 |
| 2024/25 | 49.2 |
| 2025/26 | 46.8 |
| 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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