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Darwen Aldridge Community Academy
Sudell Road, Darwen, Lancashire, BB3 3HD, Blackburn with Darwen
LocaleIQ Score
LocaleIQ Score
11.2 / 100
Bottom 11%
Better than 11% of all open schools in England. Composite of Ofsted, GCSE outcomes, and parent satisfaction.
Overview
Ofsted
Requires improvement
Pupils
1,065
Capacity
1,600
Ages
11–19
Gender
Mixed
Occupancy
67%
Summary
With a GCSE Attainment 8 score of 36.5, the school is positioned in the top 91% of schools nationally, but it currently requires improvement according to Ofsted. While 50% of students achieve grade 4 or higher in English and Maths, only 24% reach grade 5 or above, indicating room for growth. Parent satisfaction is relatively strong, with 75% recommending the school, but the overall performance and limited EBacc entry may raise concerns for some families considering options for their children.
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Open area analysis →Ofsted inspection
Last inspected: 20 May 2025Quality Of Education: Requires improvementPersonal Development: GoodBehaviour & Attitudes: GoodLeadership & Management: Good
GCSE Results
| Metric | Value | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8Combined grade score across a pupil's best 8 GCSEs. Higher = stronger academic outcomes. National average ~46.7. | 36.5 | Bottom 9% UK |
| English & Maths — Standard pass (grade 4+)Share of pupils who achieved grade 4+ in both English and Maths. Grade 4 is the minimum threshold for most employers and sixth forms. National average ~64%. | 50% | Bottom 13% UK |
| English & Maths — Strong pass (grade 5+)Share of pupils achieving grade 5+ in both English and Maths. Required by many universities and competitive sixth-form programmes. National average ~44%. | 24% | Bottom 7% UK |
| EBacc — Entry rate% of pupils who sat GCSEs in the full EBacc suite: English, Maths, History or Geography, a language, and Sciences. Signals a broad academic curriculum. National average ~39%. | 17% | Bottom 14% UK |
| EBacc — Achievement (grade 5+)% of pupils who achieved grade 5+ across all EBacc subjects. Reflects both curriculum breadth and academic rigour. National average ~22%. | 7% | Bottom 14% UK |
University Destinations
| Metric | Value | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| Progression to university% of sixth-form leavers who went on to study a degree at a UK university. Includes all universities. National average ~55%. | 44% | Below avg |
| Top-third universities% of leavers who went to a top-third university (Russell Group and equivalents — the most academically selective institutions). National average ~18%. | 9% | Below avg |
Based on 57 leavers (DfE Destinations data, latest available year).
Parent View (87 responses)
★★★★★3.6
Good range of subjects
87%
My child feels safe
85%
My child makes good progress
84%
Good range of extra-curricular
83%
School has high expectations
81%
My child is happy
76%
I'd recommend this school
75%
Progress is communicated
74%
School keeps me informed
70%
Behaviour is good
69%
School supports development
66%
School responds to concerns
58%
Pupil Ethnicity
White British71.7%
Asian Pakistani7.2%
Black African3.9%
White Other2.4%
Other2.4%
Asian Other1.8%
Asian Indian1.3%
Mixed Other1.0%
Asian Chinese0.9%
Mixed W+Asian0.8%
Black Other0.4%
Black Caribbean0.3%
traveller_irish0.2%
Asian Bangladeshi0.2%
Mixed W+B African0.1%
Mixed W+B Carib.0.1%
Location
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53.69404, -2.46308 · BB3 3HD
School details
Local authorityBlackburn with Darwen
RegionNorth West
URN135580
School typeAcademy sponsor led
Websitewww.daca.uk.com/
Frequently asked questions
What is Darwen Aldridge Community Academy rated by Ofsted?
Darwen Aldridge Community Academy was rated "Requires improvement" by Ofsted at its last inspection on 20 May 2025.
Is Darwen Aldridge Community Academy a good school?
Darwen Aldridge Community Academy scores 11.2/100 on the LocaleIQ index, placing it in the bottom 11% of all open schools in England. The score is a composite of Ofsted inspection results, GCSE outcomes, and parent satisfaction surveys.
What do parents say about Darwen Aldridge Community Academy?
Based on 87 Ofsted Parent View responses, Darwen Aldridge Community Academy receives a satisfaction score of 71% across all parent survey questions.
How do pupils perform at Darwen Aldridge Community Academy in GCSEs?
Darwen Aldridge Community Academy achieved an Attainment 8 score of 36.5. 50% of pupils achieved grade 9–4 in English and Maths.
What are the best schools near BB3 3HD?
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