Ofsted: Good trending_up Popular emoji_events #7 in Blackburn with Darwen public Top 30% UK

Darwen Vale High School

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

personMr Matthew Little

corporate_fareALDRIDGE EDUCATION

location_onDarwen, BB3 0AL

language Visit Website phone 1254223000

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

1,044

trending_up

Attainment 8

43.1

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GCSE Rank

#7 in Blackburn with Darwen

#2,072 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Darwen Vale High School is a Academy sponsor led secondary school in Darwen, serving ages 11-16. Rated Good by Ofsted. Demand is above capacity (1.1×) — apply through your local authority on time.

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School Summary

Darwen Vale High School is an academy sponsor led in Darwen, Blackburn with Darwen, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of ALDRIDGE EDUCATION. The school has approximately 1,071 pupils on roll, of whom 33% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 43.1, placing the school #7 in Blackburn with Darwen and #2,072 of 3,216 nationally. 40.40% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 14.7% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Good. 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 1.1× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 17.8:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 1.2 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

43.1

Grade 5+ E&M

40.40%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)14.7%

Entering EBacc10.60%

EBacc APS3.6

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.29

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

42.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc15.60%

EBacc APS3.58

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.15

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

43.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc10%

EBacc APS3.52

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.21

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

44.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc8%

EBacc APS3.56

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc15%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.46

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

42.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc15%

EBacc APS3.53

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.91

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

37.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc8%

EBacc APS2.94

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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

82%

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

Apprenticeships3%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)13%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

89%

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

Apprenticeships7%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)11%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

87%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)69%

Apprenticeships8%

Employment9%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)12%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

84%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)69%

Apprenticeships11%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)15%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

87%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)79%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)12%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

30 January 2024

Inspection Report

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22 September 2022

Inspection Report

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16 March 2021

Inspection Report

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03 March 2020

Inspection Report

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15 November 2017

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2024-01-30

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 2 EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2020-03-03

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Requires improvement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2017-11-15

Academy First Section 5 Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2013-06-12

None Legacy

Inadequate

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

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

1.6%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.3%(14 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 1,071 pupils. During this period, there were 17 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 1.6%, 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)	1,071	17	1.6%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,087	9	0.8%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,071	25	2.3%	7.4%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,078	63	5.8%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,078	39	3.6%	8.2%	3
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,038	28	2.7%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,044	29	2.8%	6.4%	1
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,056	18	1.7%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	946	9	1.0%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	944	36	3.8%	4.9%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	947	25	2.6%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	909	13	1.4%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	916	7	0.8%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	920	51	5.5%	3.9%	2
2019/20 (Summer term)	831	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	831	16	1.9%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	838	29	3.5%	4.2%	4
2018/19 (Summer term)	757	17	2.2%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	764	11	1.4%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	778	11	1.4%	3.8%	3
2017/18 (Summer term)	749	8	1.1%	3.4%	2
2017/18 (Spring term)	756	13	1.7%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	774	19	2.5%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	760	6	0.8%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	757	11	1.5%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	762	5	0.7%	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 72 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 45 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 29 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 27 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 25 pupils

Physical Disability 8 pupils

Hearing Impairment 5 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 5 pupils

Visual Impairment 4 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.

My child is happy at this school.

70.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

82.0%Positive

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

26.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree22%

agree40%

disagree22%

strongly disagree8%

don't know7%

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

strongly agree15%

agree44%

disagree28%

strongly disagree11%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree24%

agree28%

disagree21%

strongly disagree14%

don't know1%

not applicable12%

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

yes20%

no80%

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

strongly agree24%

agree35%

disagree24%

strongly disagree18%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree34%

agree46%

disagree11%

strongly disagree4%

don't know6%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree38%

agree40%

disagree18%

strongly disagree4%

don't know1%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree27%

agree48%

disagree15%

strongly disagree8%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree32%

agree48%

disagree8%

strongly disagree6%

don't know6%

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

strongly agree36%

agree53%

disagree4%

strongly disagree5%

don't know2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree16%

agree44%

disagree21%

strongly disagree9%

don't know9%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes69%

no31%

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

location_on Blackburn, BB2 2LD

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St Wilfrid's Church of England Academy

Good

location_on Blackburn, BB2 2JR

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Pleckgate High School

Outstanding

location_on Blackburn, BB1 8QA

emoji_events #4 in LA

St Bede's Roman Catholic High School, Blackburn

Requires improvement

location_on Blackburn, BB2 4SR

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Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School

Good

location_on Blackburn, BB2 6DF

emoji_events #6 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

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

St Bede's Roman Catholic High School, Blackburn

Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School