Skip to content
SchoolPatch
Back to map
SecondaryState · Academy converter

Blackburn Central High School

Haslingden Road, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB2 3HJ ·

Ofsted:Good· 2022
Compare

At a glance

A state secondary academy for ages 11–16 in Blackburn. Confirmed as Good at an ungraded Ofsted inspection (December 2022). GCSE results are below the England average (Attainment 8: 41.0 vs 46.1, 2024/25). 150 families put it first for 197 places (September 2026 entry).

Ages
11–16
Pupils
1,015
Gender
Mixed
Sixth form
No
Admissions
Non-selective
Local authority
Blackburn with Darwen
Academy trust
OAK LEARNING PARTNERSHIP
Headteacher
Mrs Nicola Power
Opened
Oct 2019
School website 01254505700 Explore the area

Inspection

Ofsted (framework in use until November 2025)

Read reports
Latest ungraded inspection (14 Dec 2022): School remains Good

The school's last graded inspection took place before 2019.

Inspection reports describe the school on the day. Read the full report and visit the school before deciding.

Exam results

Department for Education performance tables

GCSE results, 2024/25 · 176 pupils

Attainment 8
41.0
England 46.1
Grade 5+ Eng & maths
34.7%
England 45.4%
Grade 4+ Eng & maths
55.7%
England 64.8%
Progress 8
-0.20
2023/24 · CI -0.42 to 0.03
This school
41
Blackburn with Darwen
45.4
England
46.1

Attainment 8 over time

Earlier years include results published for this school's predecessor (URN 134906), for example before it converted to an academy.

Progress 8 isn't published for 2024/25 because those pupils had no KS2 test results (tests were cancelled in 2020). Exams were not held in 2019/20 or 2020/21.

Admissions

Demand for places and how places are allocated

Search for your address on the map to see straight-line distances to schools.

Year 7 entry, September 2026 (national offer day data)

Offers made
197
1st preferences
150
All applications
346
1st prefs per place
0.76
Fewer first choices than places

150 of 150 first-preference applicants were offered a place (100%). 5 offers went to families living in another council area.

Earlier years include data recorded for this school's predecessor.

Catchment area

We don't have an official catchment boundary for this school. Many schools don't have one, and few councils publish boundaries as open data. We don't estimate catchments. Check the school's admissions policy or the council's admissions booklet.

Last distance offered

Not published nationally. Many councils publish the furthest distance offered for each school in their annual allocation reports. Past distances vary year to year with demand and sibling numbers, so they are not a guarantee.

How places are allocated: you apply through your home council. When a school has more applicants than places, it applies its published oversubscription criteria in order. These usually start with looked-after children, then siblings, then catchment or distance; faith schools may prioritise church attendance. Children with an EHC plan naming the school are admitted first. Apply on GOV.UK

Pupils

School census 2024/25

Pupils
984
Capacity
900
113% full
Girls / boys
48/52
Mixed
  • Eligible for free school meals (last 6 years)41%
  • English as an additional language53.9%
  • SEN support20%
  • Education, Health and Care plan3.5%
  • The black tick shows the median for state-funded secondary schools in England.
Blackburn Central High School, Blackburn · SchoolPatch