Secondary school

Darwen Vale High School

  • Academy Sponsor Led
  • ages 11–16
  • Mixed
  • Blackburn with Darwen
  • BB3 0AL
  • No sixth form
Ofsted Good · inspected Jan 2024

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 2,103 of 3,280 secondaries in England · top 65%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 74%74%2016/17: top 70%2017/18: top 89%2018/19: top 69%2021/22: top 72%2022/23: top 61%61% · 2022/232023/24: top 66%2024/25: top 65%No exams

Against North West

Attainment 843.1 · North West 44.45/10 Middle+8.2 pts since 21/22
Grade 5+ English and maths40.4% · North West 40%6/10 Middle+12 pts since 21/22
EBacc point score3.6 · North West 3.84/10 Below+12.1 pts since 21/22
Progress 8 · 2023/24-0.29 · North West −0.164/10 Below+13.5 pts since 18/19
Show exam results by year

No exams 2019/20–21

Attainment 8
2015/16: 46.3 · 132 pupils · North West 49.62016/17: 42.6 · 126 pupils · North West 45.42017/18: 37.8 · 154 pupils · North West 45.052018/19: 42.7 · 126 pupils · North West 45.12021/22: 44.2 · 131 pupils · North West 46.92022/23: 43.9 · 158 pupils · North West 44.32023/24: 42.5 · 192 pupils · North West 442024/25: 43.1 · 218 pupils · North West 44.446.337.8No exams
Grade 5+ English and maths
2016/17: 23% · 126 pupils · North West 37%2017/18: 23% · 154 pupils · North West 38%2018/19: 40% · 126 pupils · North West 38%2021/22: 41% · 131 pupils · North West 45%2022/23: 41% · 158 pupils · North West 39%2023/24: 43.2% · 192 pupils · North West 39.7%2024/25: 40.4% · 218 pupils · North West 40%43.2%23%No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in95.7%
200 of 209 who put it first2014 · 93.2%2026 · 95.7%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st209200
2nd22325
3rd968

No last distance offered published

Inspections · 2007–2024

  1. 2007Satisfactoryas predecessor
  2. 2010Goodas predecessor
  3. 2013Inadequateas predecessor
  4. 2017Requires improvement
  5. 2020Requires improvement
  6. 2021Ungraded visit
  7. 2022Ungraded visit
  8. 2024Good

4 strong areas

  • Personal development
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Effectiveness of leadership and management

0 weak areas

4 areas graded · safeguarding effective

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 20261,039
Free school meals (past 6 years)33.1%
First language not English4.8%
SEN support18.9%
EHC plan1.7%
Absence (sessions missed)10.2%
Persistently absent pupils29.1%

Girls 46.6%Boys 53.4%

86.6% full · 1,200 places

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 2 Sep 2024 · 86 responses (8% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school68.6% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school80.2% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved61.6% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 53.5% not applicable55% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year59.3% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 11.6% not applicable57.9% agree
  • My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed55.5% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child79.1% agree
  • My child does well at this school76.7% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing74.4% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school79.1% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school88.4% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development59.3% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent68.6% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher17.5
Pupils per adult11.0
  • Classroom teachers 49.4
  • Leadership 10
  • Teaching assistants 13.3
  • Other support 30.8

Teachers 59.4 FTE · Whole workforce 103.6 · 106 people

Financials · 2024/25

Income per pupil£8,119
Spend per pupil£7,320
Staff spend per pupil£5,668
Reserve per pupil£1,786
  • +£1,915,000revenue reserve
  • +£857,000in-year balance

Grants £8,080 · self-generated £39 · premises £494 per pupil

Multi-academy trust: ALDRIDGE EDUCATION (9 academies) · trust reserve £2,332,000 · Reserves in a multi-academy trust belong to the trust; this academy's figures include the share of central costs the trust gives it

Destinations · 2023/24 leavers

After Year 11

192 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained87%
  • Education77.6%
  • Apprenticeship4.7%
  • Employment4.7%
  • Not sustained10.4%
  • Unknown2.6%