Classpot

Darwen Vale High School

Blackburn with Darwen, BB3 0ALSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Jan 2024
Progress 8
-0.29
Below average
−20+2
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
218 1st-choice / 235 places
Ranking
#2,223
of 3,141 nationally

About Darwen Vale High School

Darwen Vale High School’s headline Progress 8 score of -0.29 sits well below the Blackburn with Darwen local authority average of 0.05, placing it in the ‘Below average’ national banding. That gap matters: while the LA average suggests pupils across the borough typically make slightly more progress than the national baseline, Darwen Vale’s pupils leave with about a quarter of a grade less per subject than similar students nationally. The school ranks 7th out of 10 secondary schools in the LA, putting it in the bottom half locally, and 277th out of 445 in the North West region. However, this isn’t the full story. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024, the school was rated Good across all categories — a significant jump from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2020. That turnaround in leadership and behaviour suggests the current Progress 8 figure may reflect a cohort that started under the old regime, and the school is now on a clearer upward trajectory.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressBlackburn Road, Darwen, Blackburn with Darwen, BB3 0AL
HeadteacherJessica Giraud
Local AuthorityBlackburn with Darwen
Number of Pupils1,071
Free School Meals (FSM)31.4%
School Capacity1,071 / 1,200 (89% 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
See an example
One-off paymentNo subscriptionStripe checkout

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

30 Jan 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Source: Ofsted, 11 Mar 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

7
Science LabsICT SuiteTennis CourtsTheatreLibrarySports HallChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

18

Sports

FootballSwimmingRowingHockeyMartial ArtsRugbyRoundersAthleticsNetballCross Country

Clubs & Activities

Young EnterpriseOrchestraChoirCodingBook ClubModel United NationsArt ClubNewspaper

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

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

Was this page helpful?

Frequently Asked Questions About Darwen Vale High School

Darwen Vale High School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.