Ofsted: Good emoji_events #12 in Blackburn with Darwen public Top 44% UK

Darwen Aldridge Enterprise Studio

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

personMr Colin Grand

corporate_fareALDRIDGE EDUCATION

location_onDarwen, BB3 1AF

language Visit Website phone 1254819567

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Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2015

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Students

266

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Attainment 8

34.7

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GCSE Rank

#12 in Blackburn with Darwen

#3,038 of 3,216 nationally

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Darwen Aldridge Enterprise Studio is a Studio schools secondary school in Darwen, serving ages 13-19. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

Darwen Aldridge Enterprise Studio is a studio schools in Darwen, Blackburn with Darwen, admitting pupils aged 13-19. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of ALDRIDGE EDUCATION. The school has approximately 264 pupils on roll, of whom 47% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 34.7, placing the school #12 in Blackburn with Darwen and #3,038 of 3,216 nationally. 27.50% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 7.5% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 5 A-level subjects. 51.5% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 30.3% at A*–A. A-level value added: 0.06 — sixth-form progress was broadly average.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2015. The school's current overall rating is Good.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.6:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 8.6 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

34.7

Grade 5+ E&M

27.50%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)7.5%

Entering EBacc0.00%

EBacc APS2.48

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.82

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

36.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0.00%

EBacc APS2.51

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.90

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

35.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS2.44

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.9

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

33.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS2.3

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-1.06

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

34.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS2.5

2018

Progress 8 Score

-1.48

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

28.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS1.98

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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

88%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)87%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)10%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

86%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)78%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)14%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

87%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)81%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)13%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)88%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

83%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)73%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)17%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

+0.06

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

B-

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*24.2%

Achieving A*–A30.3%

Achieving A*–B51.5%

VA Banding Average

Retention rate88.2%

A-level subjects offered5

2024

A-Level Value Added

+0.23

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make above-average progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

B-

Students

Retention rate78.90%

2023

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Retention rate100.00%

2022

Avg Grade

B-

Students

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

No digital report timeline available.

Inspection History

1 Evaluations

2015-03-25

S8 No Formal Designation Visit EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

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

Suspension Rate

8.0%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

6.1%(16 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 264 pupils. During this period, there were 21 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 8.0%, which is above 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)	264	21	8.0%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	273	25	9.2%	7.8%	1
2023/24 (Summer term)	261	26	10.0%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	268	7	2.6%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	271	14	5.2%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	258	8	3.1%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	266	11	4.1%	6.4%	1
2022/23 (Autumn term)	275	20	7.3%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	254	5	2.0%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	262	29	11.1%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	269	24	8.9%	4.4%	2
2020/21 (Summer term)	218	12	5.5%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	224	5	2.2%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	235	27	11.5%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	210	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	210	6	2.9%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	215	22	10.2%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	195	11	5.6%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	196	23	11.7%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	199	13	6.5%	3.8%	1
2017/18 (Summer term)	169	9	5.3%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	168	1	0.6%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	164	25	15.2%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	143	13	9.1%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	148	7	4.7%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	152	0	0.0%	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 29 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 26 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 15 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 10 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 7 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 4 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

Hearing Impairment 1 pupils

Visual Impairment 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.

98.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

100.0%Positive

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

14.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree38%

agree54%

disagree8%

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

strongly agree35%

agree54%

disagree4%

strongly disagree2%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree38%

agree19%

disagree2%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

not applicable38%

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

yes25%

no75%

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

strongly agree25%

agree33%

strongly disagree17%

dont know25%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree50%

agree50%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree60%

agree40%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree50%

agree44%

strongly disagree2%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree60%

agree35%

disagree2%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree33%

agree38%

disagree6%

strongly disagree2%

don't know21%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree46%

agree50%

don't know4%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes100%

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

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Tauheedul Islam Boys' High School

Outstanding

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St Wilfrid's Church of England Academy

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Pleckgate High School

Outstanding

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St Bede's Roman Catholic High School, Blackburn

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Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

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

St Bede's Roman Catholic High School, Blackburn

Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School