Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School
Blackburn, BB2 6DF · Blackburn with Darwen · secondary school
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7th 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 the 910 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 1.9/10 among 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% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 34.8 · 24 | 30% | 0.72 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.22 · 33 | 25% | 0.83 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 44.3 · 41 | 10% | 0.41 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted following an inspection in 2025. In 2024/25, 36.9% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 47.0, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.22 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 2.4 out of 10 among them, against 3.6 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join clubs including Computing, Cooking, Mindfulness, Yoga, Fitness, Construction, and Chess. Sports options cover Athletics, Cricket, Football, Swimming, Ball skills, Raft building, Orienteering, and Archery. Arts and music activities include Choir, Art club, Digital art club, and Comic club. Trips include theatre and galleries, and an after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 873 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,000. 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 to raise their Attainment
What Ofsted said about Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School
Overview
This ungraded inspection found that "aspects of the school’s work may not be as strong as at the time of the previous inspection," triggering a future graded inspection. While staff care deeply for pupils and safeguarding is effective, weaknesses in curriculum design, assessment, and behaviour management have hindered some pupils’ achievement.
Strengths
- Staff demonstrate strong subject knowledge and "explain subject matter clearly," fostering a supportive environment where pupils feel safe.
- The school offers a "rich arts programme" and extensive clubs that foster leadership, teamwork, and personal development.
- Systems for identifying and supporting pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are "strong," helping most achieve well.
- Reading for pleasure is promoted effectively, with "most pupils... read[ing] frequently and with confidence."
- Pupils benefit from a comprehensive careers programme and a strong understanding of British values and diversity.
Areas to improve
- The curriculum in some subjects lacks "sufficient breadth and depth," preventing pupils from gaining necessary knowledge to progress.
- Some teachers do not check learning thoroughly enough, leaving "gaps in their learning that are left unaddressed."
- Support for older pupils struggling with reading is "less well developed," hindering their access to the curriculum.
- Inconsistent communication regarding behaviour management undermines confidence among some parents, pupils, and staff.
- Trustees do not fully understand weaknesses in education quality, limiting the effectiveness of their oversight.
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 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 47.0 |
| 2025/26 | 44.3 |
| 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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