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Blackpool Aspire Academy

Blackpool, FY3 7LSSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Requires Improvement
Jun 2024
Progress 8
-1.31
Well below average
−20+2
Competition
0.8×
Not oversubscribed
135 1st-choice / 178 places
Ranking
#3,083
of 3,141 nationally

About Blackpool Aspire Academy

Blackpool Aspire Academy was rated Requires Improvement in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024, a downgrade from the Good rating it held in 2018. The most telling academic metric is its Progress 8 score of -1.31, which the Department for Education classes as well below average. This means that, on average, pupils at this 11-16 mixed secondary school achieved more than one grade lower per subject across eight GCSEs than pupils with similar starting points nationally. The school ranks 7th out of 9 secondary schools in Blackpool on this measure, and sits in the bottom 2% of schools nationally. The Ofsted report noted that while leadership and management, behaviour and attitudes, and personal development are all Good, the quality of education itself requires improvement. The school’s Attainment 8 score sits at 32.1, and just 38% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressBlackpool Old Road, Blackpool, Blackpool, FY3 7LS
HeadteacherJohn Woods
Local AuthorityBlackpool
Number of Pupils835
Free School Meals (FSM)64.6%
School Capacity835 / 900 (93% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

5 Jun 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Source: Ofsted, 9 Jul 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

12
LibraryICT SuiteScience LabsTennis CourtsArt StudiosAstro TurfSports HallDining HallPlaying FieldsGymnasiumSixth Form CentreTheatre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

20

Sports

DanceFootballMartial ArtsRugbyAthleticsRowingBadmintonNetballGymnasticsCricket

Clubs & Activities

Science ClubDramaChoirYoung EnterpriseDebateChessOrchestraDuke of EdinburghCodingModel United Nations

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionLearning Difficulty

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:35 – 15:00

Source: blackpoolaspireacademy.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Blackpool Aspire Academy

Blackpool Aspire Academy has been rated "Requires Improvement" by Ofsted. This means the school is not yet good, but inspectors believe it can improve with the right support and changes.