Best Secondary Schools in Blackburn with Darwen 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 11 schools across Blackburn with Darwen. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Blackburn with Darwen has 11 open secondary schools. Of the 11 with a published Ofsted inspection, 3 (27%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 73% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, Tauheedul Islam Girls' High School currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Blackburn with Darwen follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

11
Total schools
3
Outstanding (historic grade)
27%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
61.8%
Avg KS2 SATs
43.2
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score
🥇 Tauheedul Islam Girls' High School
Secondary
 Outstanding 98 View school
🥈 Tauheedul Islam Boys' High School
Secondary
 Outstanding 88 View school
🥉 Pleckgate High School
Secondary
 Outstanding 71 View school
4. St Wilfrid's Church of England Academy
Secondary
 Good 66 View school
5. Darwen Vale High School
Secondary
 Good 56 View school
6. Blackburn Central High School
Secondary
 Good 54 View school
7. Witton Park Academy
Secondary
 Good 53 View school
8. St Bede's Roman Catholic High School, Blackburn
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 47 View school
9. Darwen Aldridge Enterprise Studio
Secondary
 Good 46 View school
10. Our Lady and St John RC High School, a Voluntary Academy
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 39 View school
11. Darwen Aldridge Community Academy
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 33 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Blackburn with Darwen

Best primary schools in Blackburn with DarwenTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in Blackburn with DarwenTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in Blackburn with DarwenPrimary & secondary combined Primary schools in Blackburn with DarwenReception–Year 6 only How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in LancashireCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in BoltonCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in BuryCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in WiganCompare neighbouring authority

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Frequently asked questions

How many secondary schools are there in Blackburn with Darwen?
There are 11 open secondary schools in Blackburn with Darwen (closed schools are excluded). 3 of the 11 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated secondary schools in Blackburn with Darwen?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked secondary school in Blackburn with Darwen is Tauheedul Islam Girls' High School. The full ranked table above lists the top 11 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Blackburn with Darwen?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Blackburn with Darwen?
Primary and secondary applications in Blackburn with Darwen are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Blackburn with Darwen council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.