St Wilfrid's Church of England Academy
Blackburn, BB2 2JR · Blackburn with Darwen · secondary school
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3rd 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 — 8.3/10 against 883 of them, against 7.1/10 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 | 57.6 · 78 | 30% | 2.34 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.19 · 64 | 25% | 1.60 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 49.8 · 69 | 10% | 0.69 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St Wilfrid's Church of England Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 53.4% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 50.8, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.19 in 2023/24, indicating better progress than pupils nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (8.0 out of 10 against similar schools, 6.9 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in 2023.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Dance, Fitness, Choir, Music ensembles, Science club, and Coding. Sports include Football, Netball, Swimming Gala, Sports Day, Curling, Bench Ball, and Hula-Hooping. Arts features School productions and a Spring Music and Dance Showcase. Trips include an Italy Ski Trip and the Duke of Edinburgh Award. An after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,483 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,630. 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 maintain the progress seen in the 2023/24 data? What specific support is available for pupils aiming for the Duke of Edinburgh Award? How are the 1
What Ofsted said about St Wilfrid's Church of England Academy
Overview
St Wilfrid’s Church of England Academy continues to be a good school, where pupils and students "enjoy attending" and feel "happy and safe." Leaders maintain high expectations for achievement, ensuring that all learners, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, "achieve well" and overcome barriers to success.
Strengths
- Staff "take the time to get to know pupils well" and care deeply about their well-being, fostering a respectful and inclusive community.
- Leaders have designed a "suitably ambitious curriculum" that is carefully organised so pupils can "remember and build on what they already know securely."
- Pupils with SEND "learn the same essential subject knowledge as others" and progress well through the curriculum with appropriate support.
- Students benefit from a wide range of responsibilities and enrichment activities, preparing them well for "ambitious next steps" such as university and apprenticeships.
- Governors hold leaders to account effectively, and staff appreciate that leaders are "considerate of the workload and well-being of staff."
Areas to improve
- In one or two subjects, some teachers move pupils to new learning before their prior knowledge is secure; leaders should ensure checks are made before introducing new content.
- Some older pupils do not read as regularly as they should, missing opportunities to broaden their vocabulary; leaders should promote the importance of reading and provide sufficient opportunities for it.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff receiving regular training and reporting concerns in a timely way so that pupils and families "swiftly get the help that they need."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 50.5 |
| 2024/25 | 50.8 |
| 2025/26 | 49.8 |
| 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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