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OpenSecondaryOfsted: Requires improvementURN 150308

Our Lady and St John RC High School, a Voluntary Academy

Academy sponsor led · Blackburn · BB1 1PY

Ages 11–16 · 770 pupils · Blackburn with Darwen

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Overall absence

14.8%

Admissions demand

0.87 · Often has places

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Requires improvement

Inspection date

2023-05-16

Overall effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of education
Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes
Requires improvement
Personal development
Requires improvement
Leadership and management
Requires improvement
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)

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

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

Overall absence14.8%
Persistent absence (10%+)43.7%
Unauthorised9.3%
Authorised absence
5.5%
Severe absence (50%+)
8.6%
Enrolments in measure
845

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

0.87 · Often has places

1st preferences

103

Places offered

166

1st-preference offers

101

Total preferences (any rank)
239
Preferred offers (top 3)
119
Applications from outside LA
15
Offers to outside-LA applicants
5
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 fill94%

770 pupils · 821 places

Pupils on roll
770
Boys / girls
387 / 383
School capacity
821
Capacity fill
770 / 821 (94%)
Free school meals
47.7%
FSM pupils
367
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy sponsor led

Age range

Ages 11–16

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Religious character
Roman Catholic
Religious ethos
Roman Catholic
Diocese
Diocese of Salford
Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Academy trust: ROMERO CATHOLIC ACADEMY TRUST
Academy trust
ROMERO CATHOLIC ACADEMY TRUST
Sponsor
Romero Catholic Academy Trust
Headteacher
Mr Michael Wright

Location

Address
North Road
Postcode
BB1 1PY
Town
Blackburn
County
Lancashire
Local authority
Blackburn with Darwen
District
Blackburn with Darwen
Constituency
Blackburn
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 11–16, in Blackburn, Blackburn with Darwen, 770 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: academy, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 47.7%. Religious character: Roman Catholic. Diocese: Diocese of Salford.

Open schools in Blackburn
79
Secondary schools in Blackburn
10
Academies among open schools in Blackburn
18% (14)
Open schools in BB1
37
Secondary in BB1
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 BlackburnNear BB1

  • Blackburn Central High School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Blackburn · BB2 3HJ · Blackburn with Darwen

    Ages 11–16

    • Att841.2
    • P8-0.2
    • EM5+37%
    • Absence9.5%

    0.7 miles away

  • Tauheedul Islam Boys' High School

    Ofsted: Outstanding

    Free schools · Secondary

    Blackburn · BB2 2LD · Blackburn with Darwen

    Ages 11–18

    • Att862.3
    • P81.3
    • EM5+85%
    • Absence2.8%

    1.5 miles away

  • St Wilfrid's Church of England Academy

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Blackburn · BB2 2JR · Blackburn with Darwen

    Ages 11–18

    • Att850.5
    • P80.2
    • EM5+56%
    • Absence8.2%

    1.7 miles away

  • Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School

    Ofsted: Good

    Free schools · Secondary

    Blackburn · BB2 6DF · Blackburn with Darwen

    Ages 11–19

    • Att846.7
    • P8-0.2
    • EM5+44%
    • Absence8.9%

    1.9 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%

    1.9 miles away

  • Pleckgate High School

    Ofsted: Outstanding

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Blackburn · BB1 8QA · Blackburn with Darwen

    Ages 11–16

    • Att844.0
    • P8-0.0
    • EM5+43%
    • Absence7.4%

    2.3 miles away

  • Witton Park Academy

    Ofsted: Needs attention

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Blackburn · BB2 6TD · Blackburn with Darwen

    Ages 11–16

    • Att836.0
    • P8-0.7
    • EM5+31%
    • Absence9.1%

    2.4 miles away

  • The Hyndburn Academy

    Ofsted: Needs attention

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Blackburn · BB1 4ED · Lancashire

    Ages 11–16

    • Att838.1
    • P8-0.8
    • EM5+24%
    • Absence7.9%

    2.5 miles away

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Contact

Headteacher
Mr Michael Wright
Telephone
01254588388

Official links