Darwen Aldridge Community Academy
Secondary · Academy sponsor led · Ages 11–19 · Darwen, Blackburn with Darwen
Last distance offered · Year 7 2026
Every applicant was offered a place
From Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council · offers on 2 March 2026
Nearby schools' earlier years 🔒
Darwen Aldridge Community Academy is a secondary school in Darwen, Blackburn with Darwen for ages 11–19 (academy sponsor led). Its latest Ofsted outcome is Not judged, from the inspection on 20 May 2025. Blackburn with Darwen has published a last distance offered for this school for Year 7 2026 entry.
Darwen Aldridge Community Academy catchment area: last distance offered
Parents often call this the catchment area: it's how far from the school the last child offered a place lived. It changes every year.
| Entry | Last distance offered |
|---|---|
| Year 7 2026 | Every applicant was offered a place |
What the pass includes · How to read it: one past year, not a catchment
What the figures show
- Every Year 7 applicant in 2026 was offered a place, as at 3 of the 9 other Blackburn with Darwen secondary schools with a published Year 7 2026 outcome.
- For Year 7 in 2026, there were 128 first-choice applications for 145 offers, and every first-choice family was offered a place.
- In 2024/25, 24% of pupils got grade 5 or above in GCSE English and maths (England 45%), and the Attainment 8 score was 36.5 (England 46).
- At A level in 2024/25, the average grade was C- (England B-), and progress from GCSE to A level was below average.
Worked out by Catchmently from the published figures on this page and those for other Blackburn with Darwen schools. Distances are as published; how they were measured differs between admission authorities.
Key facts
- Address
- Sudell Road, Darwen, BB3 3HD
- Type
- Academy sponsor led
- Phase
- Secondary
- Ages
- 11–19
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Council
- Blackburn with Darwen
- Pupils on roll
- 1,036 January 2026 school census
- Free school meals
- 31.9% of pupils eligible
- Pupils per teacher
- 18.8
Official record: Get Information about Schools · as at 15 September 2026
Ofsted
Not judged Inspected 20 May 2025
Strengths
- “This is a welcoming school, where pupils feel safe.”
- “Staff build positive relationships with pupils.”
- “The school is a tolerant community in which differences between people are respected.”
To improve
- “However, inconsistencies in the delivery of the curriculum mean that some pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), do not achieve as well as they should.”
- “However, some actions to improve the quality of education need more time to embed.”
- “This means that sometimes pupils do not acquire knowledge and skills in some subjects as well as they could.”
Safeguarding: Effective
Quoted from the Ofsted report published 10 July 2025 (read the report). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.
Exam results
| Measure | School | England |
|---|---|---|
| GCSE English and maths, grade 5 or above (2024/25) | 24% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 score (2024/25) | 36.5 | 46 |
| A level average grade (2024/25) | C- | B- |
Department for Education school performance data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Applications and offers
- 2026 Year 7 entry: 128 first-preference applications, 145 offers in total, 128 offers to first-preference applicants.
Department for Education, school-level applications and offers, figures on national offer day. Earlier years are in the pass.
Nearby secondary schools
Straight-line distance, in Blackburn with Darwen.
- Darwen Aldridge Enterprise Studio 0.4 mi No Ofsted grade
- Darwen Vale High School 1.5 mi Good Last distance published
- Blackburn Central High School 3.1 mi School remains Good Last distance published
- St Bede's Roman Catholic High School, Blackburn 3.2 mi Not judged Last distance published
- Our Lady and St John RC High School, a Voluntary Academy 3.3 mi No Ofsted grade Last distance published
- Tauheedul Islam Boys' High School 3.5 mi Outstanding
- St Wilfrid's Church of England Academy 3.6 mi School remains Good Last distance published
- Witton Park Academy 3.8 mi No Ofsted grade Last distance published