Ofsted: Needs attention trending_up Places Available emoji_events #15 in Blackburn with Darwen public Top 48% UK

Witton Park Academy

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

person Mr Martin Knowles (Headteacher)

corporate_fareACHIEVEMENT THROUGH COLLABORATION TRUST

location_onBlackburn, BB2 6TD

language Visit Website phone 01254264551

verified

Ofsted

Needs attention

Inspected 2026

groups

Students

1,240

trending_up

Attainment 8

39.9

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#14 in Blackburn with Darwen

#2,917 of 4,024 nationally

summarize

Witton Park Academy is a Academy converter secondary school in Blackburn, serving ages 11-16. Assessed as Needs Attention in curriculum and teaching on its latest Ofsted Report Card.

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School Summary

Witton Park Academy is an academy converter in Blackburn, Blackburn with Darwen, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of ACHIEVEMENT THROUGH COLLABORATION TRUST. The school has approximately 1,243 pupils on roll, of whom 42% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2026, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 39.9, placing the school #14 in Blackburn with Darwen and #2,917 of 4,024 nationally. 39.50% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 14.2% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2026. The school's current overall rating is Needs attention. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Needs attention, behaviour and attitudes Needs attention, personal development Needs attention, and leadership and management Needs attention.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.3× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 15.1:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 5 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 18.1 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)

2026

Attainment 8 Score

39.9

across 8 GCSE slots

Grade 5+ E&M

39.50%

Grade 4+ E&M

57.40%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)14.2%

5+ GCSEs (4+ incl. E&M)46.90%

Triple Science Entry24.60%

EBacc Slot Score11.1 / 30

2025

Attainment 8 Score

40.3

across 8 GCSE slots

Grade 5+ E&M

36.60%

Grade 4+ E&M

57.30%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)14.9%

Entering EBacc32.10%

EBacc APS3.49

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.7

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

31.30%

Entering EBacc63.50%

EBacc APS3.19

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.70

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

38.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc67%

EBacc APS3.43

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.07

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc68%

EBacc APS4.02

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.08

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

39.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc51%

EBacc APS3.61

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.01

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

43.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc46%

EBacc APS3.86

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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.

2026

Stayed in Education / Employment

84.8%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)80%

Apprenticeships1.3%

Employment3.5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)11.3%

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

87%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

ApprenticeshipsSP%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)10%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

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

Apprenticeships2%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

89%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)10%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

89%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)89%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

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Ranking History & Trajectory

National & Local Authority position based on DfE performance data · Methodology

Year	Secondary Overall (Nat)	LA Rank	GCSE Attainment	Progress 8 Rank
2026	#3,237 / 4,024	#15	#2,917	#1
2025	#2,883 / 3,948	#14	#2,802	#1
2024	#3,071 / 4,450	#14	#3,227	#2,887
2023	#3,022 / 4,321	#14	#2,972	#2,823
2022	#2,040 / 4,199	#8	#2,297	#1,330
2019	#1,992 / 2,711	#7	#2,293	#1,602
2018	#1,591 / 2,537	#6	#1,781	#1,355

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

24 February 2026

Inspection Report

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03 November 2021

Inspection Report

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20 September 2016

Inspection Report

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01 May 2014

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2026-02-24

S5 Inspection REIF Report Card

Report Card

info

Why no single overall grade?

From autumn 2024 / 2025, Ofsted replaced single-word headline grades (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate) with individual area judgements on a Report Card.

Curriculum & Teaching

Needs attention

Achievement

Needs attention

Attendance & Behaviour

Needs attention

Personal Development

Needs attention

Inclusion

Needs attention

Leadership & Governance

Needs attention

verified_user Safeguarding: Met

2016-09-20

Maintained Academy and School Short inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

verified_user Safeguarding: Met Latest Ungraded: School remains Good

2013-11-20

None Legacy

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

27.6%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

16.4%(215 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

3pupils

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 1,312 pupils. During this period, there were 362 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 27.6%, 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)	1,312	362	27.6%	7.3%	3
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,315	114	8.7%	7.8%	2
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,258	53	4.2%	7.4%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,252	35	2.8%	7.1%	1
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,256	118	9.4%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,237	53	4.3%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,240	87	7.0%	6.4%	4
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,239	92	7.4%	5.9%	4
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,231	78	6.3%	4.7%	4
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,227	64	5.2%	4.9%	2
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,232	20	1.6%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,208	22	1.8%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,193	9	0.8%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,199	20	1.7%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,137	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,137	9	0.8%	3.2%	1
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,142	12	1.1%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,127	9	0.8%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,124	18	1.6%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,129	10	0.9%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,001	5	0.5%	3.4%	1
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,002	1	0.1%	3.0%	1
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,018	10	1.0%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	926	0	0.0%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	919	0	0.0%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	934	3	0.3%	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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psychology_alt

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 100 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 77 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 33 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 14 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 13 pupils

Visual Impairment 5 pupils

Hearing Impairment 3 pupils

Physical Disability 3 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

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

Overall, how do parents view this school?

29%Positive

My child is happy at this school.

34%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

38%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

When bullying took place, the school dealt with it quickly and effectively.

strongly agree8%

agree4%

disagree28%

strongly disagree48%

not applicable48%

Neither agree nor disagree12%

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree17%

agree23%

disagree23%

strongly disagree21%

don't know4%

Neither agree nor disagree13%

When the school makes decisions it has the child's best interests at heart.

strongly agree13%

agree17%

Neither agree nor disagree8%

disagree23%

strongly disagree35%

Don't know4%

The school gives my child the right support to enable them to learn well.

strongly agree15%

agree13%

Neither agree nor disagree19%

disagree25%

strongly disagree27%

Don't know2%

The school communicates well with me about the things I need to know.

strongly agree13%

agree19%

disagree19%

strongly disagree44%

Neither agree nor disagree6%

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

strongly agree10%

agree13%

disagree21%

strongly disagree48%

not applicable2%

Neither agree nor disagree6%

Does your child have Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND)?

yes17%

no83%

My child has SEND, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

agree25%

strongly disagree63%

Neither agree nor disagree13%

Would you recommend this school to another parent?

yes31%

no69%

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ranking History & Trajectory

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

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

Overall, how do parents view this school?

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

When bullying took place, the school dealt with it quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

When the school makes decisions it has the child's best interests at heart.

The school gives my child the right support to enable them to learn well.

The school communicates well with me about the things I need to know.

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 SEND, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

Would you 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

Rawdhatul Ilm Wal Huda

Noorul Uloom

Jamiatul-Ilm Wal-Huda UK School

St Wilfrid's Church of England Academy