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OpenSecondaryOfsted: Not judgedURN 135580

Darwen Aldridge Community Academy

Academy sponsor led · Darwen · BB3 3HD

Ages 11–19 · 1,036 pupils · Blackburn with Darwen

School website

Ofsted

Not judged

Attainment 8

39.0

Overall absence

11.3%

Admissions demand

0.81 · Often has places

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Not judged

Inspection date

2025-05-20

Overall effectiveness
Not judged
Quality of education
Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8-0.77
−20+2
Attainment 839.0
English & maths grade 5+32%
English & maths grade 4+54%
EBacc entry14%

EBacc APS: 3.2

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence11.3%
Persistent absence (10%+)35.0%
Unauthorised5.2%
Authorised absence
6.1%
Severe absence (50%+)
6.8%
Enrolments in measure
1,052

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

0.81 · Often has places

1st preferences

105

Places offered

159

1st-preference offers

105

Total preferences (any rank)
218
Preferred offers (top 3)
129
Applications from outside LA
0
Offers to outside-LA applicants
0
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill65%

1,036 pupils · 1,600 places

Pupils on roll
1,036
Boys / girls
568 / 468
School capacity
1,600
Capacity fill
1,036 / 1,600 (65%)
Free school meals
36.2%
FSM pupils
318
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy sponsor led

Age range

Ages 11–19

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

2 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth formHas a sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Academy trust: ALDRIDGE EDUCATION
Academy trust
ALDRIDGE EDUCATION
Sponsor
Aldridge Education
Headteacher
Mr Allan Glover

Location

Address
Sudell Road
Postcode
BB3 3HD
Town
Darwen
County
Lancashire
Local authority
Blackburn with Darwen
District
Blackburn with Darwen
Constituency
Rossendale and Darwen
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed academy sponsor led (secondary), Ages 11–19, in Darwen, Blackburn with Darwen, 1,036 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, academy, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 36.2%.

Open schools in Darwen
19
Secondary schools in Darwen
3
Academies among open schools in Darwen
37% (7)
Open schools in BB3
21
Secondary in BB3
3
Open schools in Blackburn with Darwen LA
89
Secondary in Blackburn with Darwen LA
12

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in DarwenNear BB3

  • Darwen Aldridge Enterprise Studio

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Studio schools · Secondary

    Darwen · BB3 1AF · Blackburn with Darwen

    Ages 13–19

    • Att836.4
    • P8-0.8
    • EM5+22%
    • Absence14.1%

    0.4 miles away

  • Darwen Vale High School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Darwen · BB3 0AL · Blackburn with Darwen

    Ages 11–16

    • Att842.5
    • P8-0.3
    • EM5+43%
    • Absence11.1%

    1.5 miles away

  • Turncroft Nursery School

    Ofsted: Standards maintained

    Local authority nursery school · Nursery

    Darwen · BB3 2DN · Blackburn with Darwen

    Ages 3–4

    • FSM0.0%

    0.2 miles away

  • Holy Trinity VC School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Voluntary controlled school · Primary

    Darwen · BB3 2RW · Blackburn with Darwen

    Ages 4–11

    • KS229%
    • Absence9.2%
    • FSM47.9%
    • Demand1.00

    0.3 miles away

  • Darwen Aldridge Sudell Primary

    Ofsted: Needs attention

    Academy converter · Primary

    Darwen · BB3 3EB · Blackburn with Darwen

    Ages 4–11

    • KS213%
    • Absence9.3%
    • FSM50.3%
    • Demand0.94

    0.3 miles away

  • Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy converter · Primary

    Darwen · BB3 0EY · Blackburn with Darwen

    Ages 3–11

    • KS228%
    • Absence9.5%
    • FSM41.5%
    • Demand1.00

    0.5 miles away

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Contact

Headteacher
Mr Allan Glover
Telephone
01254819500
Website
http://www.daca.uk.com/

Official links