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The Blackpool Sixth Form College

Blackpool, FY3 7LRSecondaryAges 16–19MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Requires Improvement
May 2026
Progress 8
-0.59
Well below average
−20+2
Competition
0.8×
Not oversubscribed
128 1st-choice / 152 places
Ranking
#2,720
of 3,141 nationally

About The Blackpool Sixth Form College

The Blackpool Sixth Form College received 308 applications for 152 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, an oversubscription ratio of 2.03, with 128 of those being first-preference choices. This level of demand suggests it remains a popular option for local families despite its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, which rated the school as Requires Improvement across all areas, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This is a downgrade from its previous inspection in 2014, when overall effectiveness was Good and leadership and management were Outstanding. The college is a state-funded, mixed sixth form for students aged 16 to 19, led by headteacher Nicola Craven, with 29.1 per cent of students eligible for free school meals.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range16 to 19 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressBlackpool Old Road, Blackpool, Blackpool, FY3 7LR
HeadteacherNicola Craven
Local AuthorityBlackpool
Free School Meals (FSM)29.1%
School Capacity1,050

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

26 Sept 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Requires improvement
Personal Development
Requires improvement
Leadership & Management
Requires improvement

Source: Ofsted, 9 Nov 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

12
Swimming PoolTheatreArt StudiosTennis CourtsSixth Form CentreLibraryGymnasiumMusic RoomsPlaying FieldsDining HallAstro TurfChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

18

Sports

FootballHockeyRoundersAthleticsBasketballSwimmingBadmintonCross CountryRugby

Clubs & Activities

Eco ClubGardeningCodingScience ClubDuke of EdinburghNewspaperChessYoung EnterpriseBook Club

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyMulti-SensoryOther

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Blackpool Sixth Form College

The Blackpool Sixth Form College 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.