Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School
N/A
Capacity
875
Pupils
N/A
Demand
About Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School is a state secondary and sixth form in Blackburn with Darwen, a local authority where only three of 13 same-type schools currently hold an Outstanding rating from Ofsted. The school sits among a competitive group of top-performing peers, with Tauheedul Islam Girls' High School, Tauheedul Islam Boys' High School, and St Wilfrid's Church of England Academy all ranking ahead of it locally. Headteacher Claire Gammon leads a mixed, non-denominational school of 875 pupils aged 11 to 19. In its most recent graded inspection in 2014, the school was rated Good overall, and an ungraded inspection in January 2024 confirmed it remains Good. That 2024 visit noted leadership and management as Outstanding, while sixth-form provision was judged Good. The school has clearly improved since its 2013 inspection, when it was rated Requires Improvement, and the recent ungraded outcome suggests stability under current leadership.
Academically, the school's performance sits slightly above the local authority average. The LA's average Progress 8 score is 0.05, and while Queen Elizabeth's own score is not provided in this data, its position among the top peers suggests solid results. The school offers a full range of GCSE and A-level pathways, and its sixth form is rated Good. The Ofsted report from 2014 noted that pupils make good progress, and the 2024 ungraded inspection found no reason to change that assessment. For families comparing options, the school's closest Outstanding-rated neighbour is Tauheedul Islam Girls' High School, just 1.1 km away, but Queen Elizabeth's offers a co-educational environment that those single-sex schools do not. The school's religious character is listed as None, which may appeal to families seeking a secular setting.
The school is well equipped with facilities including a swimming pool, sports hall, theatre, astro turf, and a sixth form centre. Sports on offer include rowing, rugby, hockey, cricket, netball, and football, and extracurricular clubs range from the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and Model UN to gardening, eco club, and Young Enterprise. These provisions suggest a school that values both academic and personal development. Admissions data is not provided here, but as a state grammar school in a selective authority, places are likely oversubscribed. This school will suit families who want a Good-rated, co-educational secondary with strong leadership, a broad extracurricular programme, and a sixth form that has been independently assessed as Good. Its location in Blackburn with Darwen means it competes with several high-performing faith schools, but its non-religious character and mixed intake give it a distinct position in the local landscape.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | West Park Road, Blackburn, Blackburn with Darwen, BB2 6DF |
| Headteacher | Claire Gammon |
| Local Authority | Blackburn with Darwen |
| Number of Pupils | 875 |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
24 Jan 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (24 Jan 2024): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 26 Nov 2014. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
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.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
22
Total schools
19
Oversubscribed
15
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Queen Elizabeth's Grammar 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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications
School Open Days Calendar 2026/27
When open days happen and what to look for
Contact Information
West Park Road, Blackburn
Blackburn with Darwen, BB2 6DF
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 Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School!
Write a Review