Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Popular emoji_events #5 in Blackburn with Darwen public Top 18% UK

St Bede's Roman Catholic High School, Blackburn

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr Daniel Milton

location_onBlackburn, BB2 4SR

language Visit Website phone 1254202519

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

1,057

trending_up

Attainment 8

47.4

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GCSE Rank

#5 in Blackburn with Darwen

#1,308 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

St Bede's Roman Catholic High School, Blackburn is a Voluntary aided school secondary school in Blackburn, serving ages 11-16. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards. Demand is above capacity (1.3×) — apply through your local authority on time.

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School Summary

St Bede's Roman Catholic High School, Blackburn is a voluntary aided school in Blackburn, Blackburn with Darwen, admitting pupils aged 11-16. The school has approximately 1,043 pupils on roll, of whom 21% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 47.4, placing the school #5 in Blackburn with Darwen and #1,308 of 3,216 nationally. 53.50% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 19.1% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.3× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 15.7:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 2 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 4.8 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

47.4

Grade 5+ E&M

53.50%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)19.1%

Entering EBacc44.10%

EBacc APS4.27

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.25

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

44.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc52.80%

EBacc APS4.12

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.12

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

46.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc57%

EBacc APS4.28

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.07

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

49.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc59%

EBacc APS4.51

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc42%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.06

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

48.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc12%

EBacc APS4.01

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.06

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc10%

EBacc APS3.92

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

87%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)75%

Apprenticeships9%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)10%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)76%

Apprenticeships10%

Employment9%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)77%

Apprenticeships10%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)83%

Apprenticeships7%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)82%

Apprenticeships7%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

04 March 2025

Inspection Report

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21 February 2023

Inspection Report

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17 January 2018

Inspection Report

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17 September 2014

Inspection Report

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15 January 2013

Inspection Report

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14 September 2011

Inspection Report

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01 March 2010

Inspection Report

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01 December 2008

Inspection Report

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17 January 2007

Inspection Report

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08 May 2001

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

5 Evaluations

2025-03-04

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2023-02-21

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2018-01-17

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2014-09-17

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2010-03-01

None EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

6.6%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

3.7%(39 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,043 pupils. During this period, there were 69 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 6.6%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,043	69	6.6%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,047	31	3.0%	7.8%	1
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,057	34	3.2%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,061	11	1.0%	7.1%	2
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,057	45	4.3%	8.2%	1
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,058	40	3.8%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,057	28	2.6%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,056	42	4.0%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,063	22	2.1%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,066	16	1.5%	4.9%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,072	14	1.3%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,069	20	1.9%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,069	0	0.0%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,066	16	1.5%	3.9%	1
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,058	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,058	17	1.6%	3.2%	3
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,061	19	1.8%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,030	6	0.6%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,031	25	2.4%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,040	14	1.3%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,025	16	1.6%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,024	9	0.9%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,033	33	3.2%	3.7%	1
2016/17 (Summer term)	999	17	1.7%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,001	16	1.6%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,012	13	1.3%	3.1%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 46 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 24 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 18 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 18 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 17 pupils

Physical Disability 8 pupils

Hearing Impairment 3 pupils

Visual Impairment 3 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

93.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

95.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

8.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree36%

agree48%

disagree9%

strongly disagree4%

don't know3%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree30%

agree43%

disagree19%

strongly disagree5%

don't know3%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree32%

agree30%

disagree12%

strongly disagree3%

not applicable23%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes21%

no79%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree31%

agree44%

disagree19%

strongly disagree6%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree49%

agree32%

disagree12%

don't know6%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree48%

agree39%

disagree10%

don't know3%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree47%

agree36%

disagree17%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree39%

agree44%

disagree14%

strongly disagree3%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree49%

agree48%

disagree3%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree35%

agree39%

disagree14%

strongly disagree4%

don't know8%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes90%

no10%

Top Secondary Schools in Blackburn with Darwen

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Tauheedul Islam Girls' High School

Outstanding

location_on Blackburn, BB2 7AD

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Tauheedul Islam Boys' High School

Outstanding

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St Wilfrid's Church of England Academy

Good

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Pleckgate High School

Outstanding

location_on Blackburn, BB1 8QA

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Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School

Good

location_on Blackburn, BB2 6DF

emoji_events #6 in LA

Darwen Vale High School

Good

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emoji_events #7 in LA

View all schools in Blackburn with Darwen arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Roman Catholic)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Blackburn with Darwen

Tauheedul Islam Girls' High School

Tauheedul Islam Boys' High School

St Wilfrid's Church of England Academy

Pleckgate High School

Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School

Darwen Vale High School