Pleckgate High School
100%
Capacity
1,354
Pupils
2.4x
Demand
About Pleckgate High School
Pleckgate High School is a large, mixed secondary in Blackburn with Darwen that is effectively full, with 1,354 pupils against a capacity of 1,350. Its intake reflects a significantly higher-than-average level of disadvantage: 23.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, compared with the national secondary average of around 14%. Demand for places is strong — for the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 643 applications for 268 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.4 to one. Of those, 244 families put Pleckgate as their first preference, and 206 first-preference offers were made. The school is one of only three secondaries in the local authority rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and its most recent inspection in June 2024 awarded top marks across every category: overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. That represents a continuation of the Outstanding rating it also held in its previous inspection in 2019.
Academically, Pleckgate performs around the national average, with a Progress 8 score of -0.01, placing it in the 'Average' banding nationally and 4th out of 10 schools in Blackburn with Darwen. This is slightly below the local authority average Progress 8 of 0.05, but the school’s Attainment 8 score of 44 is solid, and 62.2% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, with 43.2% reaching grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score is 3.93, and 49.4% of pupils entered the EBacc combination of subjects, though only 23.9% achieved a grade 4 or above across all five components. Progress in maths is a relative strength, with a Progress 8 score of +0.13, while English and the EBacc bucket are slightly negative. Nationally, the school sits in the 49th percentile for Progress 8, meaning it is squarely in the middle of the pack.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a theatre, music rooms, art studios, an astro turf pitch, and a gymnasium, with sports such as martial arts, rowing, and hockey available. There is an extensive clubs programme covering debate, coding, choir, gardening, and chess, among others. Pleckgate also provides for a wide spectrum of SEND needs, including support for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and physical disabilities. The school has no sixth form, so pupils leave at 16, and it is not a boarding school. Given its strong Ofsted record, high demand, and above-average FSM intake, this is a school that appeals to local families seeking a well-regarded, inclusive mainstream option in a diverse urban area, though those prioritising the highest academic progress may want to compare it with the two nearby Tauheedul Islam schools, which sit above it in the local rankings.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Pleckgate Road, Blackburn, Blackburn with Darwen, BB1 8QA |
| Headteacher | A McGinty |
| Local Authority | Blackburn with Darwen |
| Number of Pupils | 1,354 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 23.3% |
| School Capacity | 1,354 / 1,350 (100% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
5 Jun 2024Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Source: Ofsted, 2 Jul 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.01)
1531st of 3,141
Nationally
161st of 445
In North West
4th of 10
In Blackburn with Darwen
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/236%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 206 pupils).
- FE college69%
- Sixth form college16%
- School sixth form (stay)6%
- Not sustained5%
- Employment1%
93% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed268
643
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
244 families put this school as their 1st choice (38% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 15:00
Source: pleckgate.com. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- Asian86.3%
- Mixed3.5%
- White British2.5%
- White (other)1.0%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
8
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
7
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Was this page helpful?
Frequently Asked Questions About Pleckgate High School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Pleckgate Road, Blackburn
Blackburn with Darwen, BB1 8QA
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Pleckgate High School!
Write a Review