Classpot

Pleckgate High School

Blackburn with Darwen, BB1 8QASecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Outstanding
Jun 2024
Progress 8
-0.01
Below average
−20+2
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
244 1st-choice / 268 places
Ranking
#1,531
of 3,141 nationally

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.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressPleckgate Road, Blackburn, Blackburn with Darwen, BB1 8QA
HeadteacherA McGinty
Local AuthorityBlackburn with Darwen
Number of Pupils1,354
Free School Meals (FSM)23.3%
School Capacity1,354 / 1,350 (100% 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
Outstanding
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding

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

Facilities

9
Playing FieldsICT SuiteArt StudiosDining HallGymnasiumAstro TurfMusic RoomsTheatreChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

15

Sports

Martial ArtsHockeyAthleticsDanceRowingBadminton

Clubs & Activities

DebateDramaFilm ClubGardeningCodingChoirEco ClubChessOrchestra

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.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:30 – 15:00

Source: pleckgate.com. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Pleckgate High School

Pleckgate High School has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.