Witton Park Academy
107%
Capacity
1,312
Pupils
2.0x
Demand
About Witton Park Academy
Witton Park Academy is a heavily oversubscribed secondary school in Blackburn with Darwen, with 435 applications for 221 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.97. Of those, 101 families put it as their first preference, and all of those received offers. The school does not publish a parent-view recommendation score, but the sheer volume of applications suggests strong local demand. It is a state-funded, mixed, non-religious school for pupils aged 11 to 16, with no sixth form. The headteacher is Martin Knowles, and the school currently holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained across its two most recent inspections, including an ungraded visit in 2021 that confirmed it remains Good.
Academically, the picture is more mixed. Witton Park’s Progress 8 score for the 2023/24 academic year is -0.7, which is well below average nationally and ranks it 8th out of 10 schools in the local authority. The local authority average Progress 8 score is 0.05, so the school sits significantly below that benchmark. Its Attainment 8 score is 36, and just 31.3% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc average point score is 3.19, and only 7.4% of pupils entered the full EBacc and achieved a grade 5 or above. In the North West region, the school ranks 381st out of 445 schools, placing it in the bottom 50 nationally. The Ofsted breakdown from 2016 rated leadership and management as Good, and the school has held a Good overall effectiveness rating since at least 2013.
The school is well equipped with facilities including a sports hall, swimming pool, astro turf, theatre, and a library. It offers a wide range of clubs from coding and Model UN to gardening and orchestra, and sports include football, rugby, swimming, and martial arts. For pupils with additional needs, the school lists provisions for eight categories including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. With 35.7% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a community with above-average disadvantage. Given its oversubscription and Good Ofsted rating, this school will appeal to local families who prioritise a stable, well-resourced secondary with strong pastoral and SEND support, but who are comfortable with academic outcomes that are below the local average.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Buncer Lane, Blackburn, Blackburn with Darwen, BB2 6TD |
| Headteacher | Martin Knowles |
| Local Authority | Blackburn with Darwen |
| Number of Pupils | 1,312 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 35.7% |
| School Capacity | 1,312 / 1,230 (107% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
4 Nov 2021Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (4 Nov 2021): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 14 Oct 2016. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.70)
2848th of 3,141
Nationally
381st of 445
In North West
8th of 10
In Blackburn with Darwen
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly less progress than similar students nationally
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
2022/2310%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 233 pupils).
- FE college55%
- Sixth form college19%
- School sixth form (stay)10%
- Not sustained10%
- Employment3%
- Apprenticeship1%
89% 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
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed221
435
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
101 families put this school as their 1st choice (23% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Asian60.5%
- White British18.0%
- White (other)5.9%
- Mixed5.6%
- Black0.3%
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.
19
Total schools
15
Oversubscribed
12
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 Witton Park Academy
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
Buncer Lane, Blackburn
Blackburn with Darwen, BB2 6TD
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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