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Darwen Vale High School
Blackburn Road, Darwen, Lancashire, BB3 0AL, Blackburn with Darwen
LocaleIQ Score
LocaleIQ Score
35.8 / 100
Bottom 36%
Better than 36% of all open schools in England. Composite of Ofsted, GCSE outcomes, and parent satisfaction.
Overview
Ofsted
Good
Pupils
1,071
Capacity
1,200
Ages
11–16
Gender
Mixed
Occupancy
89%
Summary
With a recent Ofsted rating of Good, the school demonstrates solid performance, particularly in GCSE attainment, where it ranks in the top 65% nationally with an Attainment 8 score of 43.1. While 58% of students achieve a grade 4 or above in English and Maths, the EBacc entry rate is relatively low at 11%, indicating fewer students are pursuing a broader academic curriculum. Overall, it offers a supportive environment with above-average performance in key areas, making it a viable option for parents considering secondary education in the area.
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Open area analysis →Ofsted inspection
Last inspected: 30 January 2024Quality Of Education: GoodPersonal 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. | 43.1 | Bottom 35% 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%. | 58% | Bottom 29% 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%. | 40% | Bottom 41% 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%. | 11% | 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 |
Pupil Ethnicity
White British89.2%
Other2.5%
White Other1.3%
Asian Pakistani1.1%
Mixed Other0.9%
Asian Other0.4%
Mixed W+Asian0.3%
Asian Chinese0.3%
Black African0.3%
Asian Indian0.1%
Location
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53.71517, -2.46917 · BB3 0AL
School details
Local authorityBlackburn with Darwen
RegionNorth West
URN141321
School typeAcademy sponsor led
Websitewww.darwenvale.com
Frequently asked questions
What is Darwen Vale High School rated by Ofsted?
Darwen Vale High School was rated "Good" by Ofsted at its last inspection on 30 January 2024.
Is Darwen Vale High School a good school?
Darwen Vale High School scores 35.8/100 on the LocaleIQ index, placing it in the bottom 36% of all open schools in England. The score is a composite of Ofsted inspection results, GCSE outcomes, and parent satisfaction surveys.
How do pupils perform at Darwen Vale High School in GCSEs?
Darwen Vale High School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 43.1. 58% of pupils achieved grade 9–4 in English and Maths.
What are the best schools near BB3 0AL?
Use the LocaleIQ map to explore all schools near BB3 0AL with Ofsted ratings, GCSE results, and parent reviews overlaid. You can filter by Primary, Secondary, Nursery or College.