GCSE 2025/26
#2,504 of 3,312
Worse than 75% of schools in England
Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.
Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 15 Nov 2012
Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 146936.
GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.
| Measure | This school | Blackburn with Darwen | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average. | 41, worse than England, worse than Blackburn with Darwen | 44.1 | 46.2 |
| Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass. | 48.3%, worse than England, worse than Blackburn with Darwen | 60.3% | 64.8% |
| Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass. | 37.2%, worse than England, worse than Blackburn with Darwen | 43.3% | 46.3% |
| Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade. | 8.1%, worse than England, worse than Blackburn with Darwen | 12.2% | 14.2% |
| 5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths | 43%, worse than England, worse than Blackburn with Darwen | 55.4% | 60.2% |
| Pupils at the end of key stage 4 | 172 | - | - |
Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.
Pupils at the January school census.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Total pupils | 1,015 |
| Girls | 485 |
| Boys | 530 |
| Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals. | 44% |
| First language not English | 59.3% |
| School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery. | 900 |
| Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken. | 0% |
| SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school. | 237 |
| EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs. | 36 |
| Average class size | 22.5 |
Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.
Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.
Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.
Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Pupils per teacher | 17.2 |
| Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants. | 11.1 |
| Teachers (FTE) | 59.18 |
| Teaching assistants (FTE) | 18.55 |
| Support staff (FTE) | 44.71 |
| Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/25 | 61 |
| Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/25 | 54.4 |
| Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/25 | 3 |
| Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/25 | 3.6 |
Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.
Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Offers made (Year 7)Places offered on national offer day. | 197 |
| Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed. | 346 |
| First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice. | 150 |
| First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place. | 150 |
| Applications from another local authority (Year 7) | 8 |
Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.
Share of possible sessions missed.
| Measure | This school | Blackburn with Darwen | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall absence | 7.8%, similar to England, better than Blackburn with Darwen | 8.4% | 8% |
| Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions. | 24.4%, worse than England, similar to Blackburn with Darwen | 24.4% | 21.6% |
| Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions. | 2.3%, better than England, better than Blackburn with Darwen | 3.6% | 3.6% |
Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.
Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Suspension rate | 33.6% |
| Pupils with one or more suspensions | 12% |
| Permanent exclusion rate | 0.4% |
| Permanent exclusions | 4 |
Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.
Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms. | 91.3% |
| Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education. | 90.1% |
| Further education | 68.6% |
| School sixth form | 12.8% |
| Sixth form college | 8.1% |
| Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms. | 5.2% |
| Employment | 1.2% |
| Apprenticeship | 0% |
Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.
Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.
| Distance | Phase | Name | Type | Rating | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 mi | Primary | St Mary's and St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn | Voluntary aided school | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 2 May 2012. | |
| 0.2 mi | Primary | Audley Junior School | Community school | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 2 Jul 2013. | |
| 0.2 mi | Primary | Audley Infant School | Community school | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 24 Sept 2014. | |
| 0.4 mi | Not applicable | Al Islah Girls' High School | Other independent school | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 4 Mar 2025. | |
| 0.5 mi | Not applicable | Noorul Uloom | Other independent school | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 8 May 2024. | |
| 0.5 mi | Not applicable | Markazul Uloom | Other independent school | Requires improvement Area360 rating. Inspected 19 May 2026. | |
| 0.5 mi | Nursery | Brunel Nursery School | Local authority nursery school | Requires improvement Area360 rating. Inspected 19 May 2026. | |
| 0.5 mi | Primary | St Matthew's Church of England Primary School | Voluntary aided school | Requires improvement Area360 rating. Inspected 6 Jan 2026. | |
| 0.6 mi | Primary | Longshaw Community Junior School | Community school | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 8 May 2013. | |
| 0.7 mi | Primary | Blackburn St Thomas' Church of England Primary School | Voluntary controlled school | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 18 Sept 2013. |
Blackburn Central High School is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected on 15 Nov 2012.
Blackburn Central High School ranks 2,504 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (worse than 75% of schools).
In 2025/26, 37.2% of pupils at Blackburn Central High School got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 41 (England 46.2).
For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, Blackburn Central High School made 197 offers from 346 applications (1.8 per offer), and 150 of 150 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.
Blackburn Central High School has 1,015 pupils aged 11 to 16.
Blackburn Central High School had 900 school places in 2024/25.
No, Blackburn Central High School teaches pupils up to age 16.
At Blackburn Central High School, the average class had 22.5 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 17.2 pupils per teacher.
In 2025/26, pupils at Blackburn Central High School missed 7.8% of sessions (England 8%), and 24.4% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 21.6%).
Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.