Witton Park Academy
Blackburn, BB2 6TD · Blackburn with Darwen · secondary school
Check the area around this school
9th 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 — 3.8/10 against 492 of them, against 2.3/10 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 | 2 | 35% | 0.07 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 39.5 · 36 | 30% | 1.08 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.7 · 8 | 25% | 0.21 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 39.9 · 19 | 10% | 0.19 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Witton Park Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 36.6% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 40.3, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.7 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (3.5 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.1 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in February 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,243 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,230. 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 gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific steps are taken to improve progress scores for students starting from similar backgrounds?
What Ofsted said about Witton Park Academy
Overview
Witton Park Academy is undergoing significant change following recent leadership and staffing instability, with many improvement actions still in their early stages. The report states that pupils "do not receive a consistently well-taught curriculum," resulting in uneven achievement and limited preparation for future steps. While there are "early signs of improvement" in some areas, the school currently does not meet expected standards across most inspection categories.
Strengths
- Safeguarding standards are met, with an "open culture" where concerns are actively identified and managed.
- Support for reading is "more established," helping disadvantaged pupils and those speaking English as an additional language access the curriculum.
- Leaders have "broadened the curriculum" and introduced structured careers guidance, with pupils beginning to benefit from employer encounters.
- Disadvantaged pupils and those known to social care "usually receive timely support," aided by improved engagement with families and external professionals.
- Pupils enjoy "positive relationships with staff" and value leadership roles such as mental health ambassadors.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure teachers check pupils' understanding effectively to address gaps in knowledge and adapt teaching for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
- Attendance barriers, particularly for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, must be identified and reduced more quickly through precise analysis.
- Behaviour expectations and responses to bullying must be applied consistently by all staff, with clear communication to build confidence among pupils and parents.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, meaning leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer and feel safe.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 36.0 |
| 2024/25 | 40.3 |
| 2025/26 | 39.9 |
| 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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