Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #13 in Blackburn with Darwen public Top 39% UK

Blackburn Central High School

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

person Mrs Nicola Power (Headteacher)

corporate_fareOAK LEARNING PARTNERSHIP

location_onBlackburn, BB2 3HJ

language Visit Website phone 01254505700

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2012

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Students

921

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Attainment 8

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GCSE Rank

#13 in Blackburn with Darwen

#2,754 of 4,024 nationally

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Blackburn Central High School is a Academy converter secondary school in Blackburn, serving ages 11-16. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

Blackburn Central High School is an academy converter in Blackburn, Blackburn with Darwen, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of OAK LEARNING PARTNERSHIP. The school has approximately 1,015 pupils on roll, of whom 44% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2026, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 41, placing the school #13 in Blackburn with Darwen and #2,754 of 4,024 nationally. 37.20% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 16.2% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2012. The school's current overall rating is Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.8× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 17.2:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 4 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 16.0 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

across 8 GCSE slots

Grade 5+ E&M

37.20%

Grade 4+ E&M

48.30%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)16.2%

5+ GCSEs (4+ incl. E&M)43.00%

Triple Science Entry12.80%

EBacc Slot Score12.5 / 30

2025

Attainment 8 Score

across 8 GCSE slots

Grade 5+ E&M

34.70%

Grade 4+ E&M

55.70%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)14.1%

Entering EBacc55.10%

EBacc APS3.82

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.2

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

41.2

Grade 5+ E&M

36.60%

Entering EBacc53.50%

EBacc APS3.79

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.48

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

40.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc54%

EBacc APS3.70

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.04

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

44.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc57%

EBacc APS4.03

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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

91.3%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)90.1%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment1.2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5.2%

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

84%

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

Apprenticeships2%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)13%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

90%

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

Apprenticeships1%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

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

Apprenticeships2%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

89%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)84%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

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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	#2,483 / 4,024	#13	#2,754	#1
2025	#2,796 / 3,948	#13	#2,694	#1
2024	#2,451 / 4,450	#10	#2,615	#2,047
2023	#2,609 / 4,321	#12	#2,700	#2,575
2022	#2,200 / 4,199	#10	#2,394	#1,584

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

No digital report timeline available.

Inspection History

2 Evaluations

2012-11-15

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Latest Ungraded: School remains Good

2009-11-30

None EIF

Requires improvement

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

11.2%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

5.9%(58 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 984 pupils. During this period, there were 110 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 11.2%, 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)	984	110	11.2%	7.3%	3
2024/25 (Autumn term)	980	204	20.8%	7.8%	1
2023/24 (Summer term)	968	159	16.4%	7.4%	3
2023/24 (Spring term)	960	96	10.0%	7.1%	3
2023/24 (Autumn term)	960	61	6.4%	8.2%	2
2022/23 (Summer term)	922	39	4.2%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	921	40	4.3%	6.4%	3
2022/23 (Autumn term)	916	27	2.9%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	896	27	3.0%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	900	26	2.9%	4.9%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	899	28	3.1%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	904	26	2.9%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	908	10	1.1%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	899	33	3.7%	3.9%	1
2019/20 (Summer term)	906	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	906	11	1.2%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	903	16	1.8%	4.2%	2

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.

Speech, Language & Communication 72 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 57 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 39 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 26 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 25 pupils

Visual Impairment 5 pupils

Hearing Impairment 3 pupils

Physical Disability 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.

82%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

82%Positive

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

30%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree39%

agree33%

disagree14%

strongly disagree8%

don't know6%

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

strongly agree41%

agree29%

disagree24%

strongly disagree4%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree41%

agree14%

disagree8%

strongly disagree12%

not applicable25%

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

yes35%

no65%

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

strongly agree44%

agree17%

disagree11%

strongly disagree22%

Don't know6%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree55%

agree25%

disagree8%

strongly disagree6%

don't know6%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree53%

agree33%

disagree6%

strongly disagree4%

don't know4%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree45%

agree33%

disagree8%

strongly disagree10%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree59%

agree25%

disagree10%

don't know6%

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

strongly agree51%

agree37%

disagree6%

strongly disagree2%

don't know4%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree43%

agree35%

disagree8%

strongly disagree6%

don't know8%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes76%

no24%

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

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Tauheedul Islam Boys' High School

Outstanding

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emoji_events #2 in LA

Rawdhatul Ilm Wal Huda

Good

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Noorul Uloom

Good

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emoji_events #4 in LA

Jamiatul-Ilm Wal-Huda UK School

Good

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emoji_events #5 in LA

St Wilfrid's Church of England Academy

Good

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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)

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

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

Rawdhatul Ilm Wal Huda

Noorul Uloom

Jamiatul-Ilm Wal-Huda UK School

St Wilfrid's Church of England Academy