The hardest schools to get into in Blackburn with Darwen
Secondary: 250 families put Tauheedul Islam Girls' High School first in 2026 and 118 of them (47%) were offered a place.
Reception: 156 families put The Olive School, Blackburn first in 2026 and 89 of them (57%) were offered a place.
Every state school in Blackburn with Darwen with at least 20 first-choice applicants, hardest first. Of the families who put the school first on their application, the share who were offered a place there. Data: Department for Education.
Secondary schools (Year 7)
| # | School | Put it first | Of them, offered | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tauheedul Islam Girls' High School · Blackburn · faith | 250 | 118 (47%) | 120 |
| 2 | Tauheedul Islam Boys' High School · Blackburn · faith | 233 | 114 (49%) | 115 |
| 3 | St Wilfrid's Church of England Academy · Blackburn · faith | 293 | 216 (74%) | 252 |
| 4 | Pleckgate High School · Blackburn | 281 | 218 (78%) | 265 |
| 5 | St Bede's Roman Catholic High School, Blackburn · Blackburn · faith | 262 | 205 (78%) | 207 |
| 6 | Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School · Blackburn | 126 | 110 (87%) | 167 |
| 7 | Darwen Vale High School · Darwen | 209 | 200 (96%) | 233 |
| 8 | Blackburn Central High School · Blackburn | 150 | 150 (100%) | 197 |
| 9 | Darwen Aldridge Community Academy · Darwen | 128 | 128 (100%) | 145 |
| 10 | Our Lady and St John RC High School, a Voluntary Academy · Blackburn · faith | 106 | 106 (100%) | 155 |
| 11 | Witton Park Academy · Blackburn | 67 | 67 (100%) | 219 |
Primary schools (Reception)
Getting into a school in Blackburn with Darwen
What is the hardest school to get into in Blackburn with Darwen?
For secondary places, 250 families put Tauheedul Islam Girls' High School first in 2026 and 118 of them (47%) were offered a place. For Reception, 156 families put The Olive School, Blackburn first and 89 of them (57%) were offered a place.
Tauheedul Islam Girls' High SchoolThe Olive School, Blackburn
How many families in Blackburn with Darwen get their first-choice school?
78.9% of families applying for a secondary place got their first preference, and 89.3% of those applying for Reception did (offers for September 2026).
Does putting a school first improve our chances?
Not at the other schools you name. Councils in England use an equal-preference system: every school you list is considered against its own admissions criteria, and if more than one could offer a place you get the one you ranked highest. So list schools in your genuine order of preference, and include at least one you are very likely to get.
What does "last distance offered" mean?
For schools that give places by distance, it is how far from the school the last child offered a place under that criterion lived. It changes every year with the number and location of applicants, so treat it as a guide, not a guarantee. We show it where Blackburn with Darwen published it in its admissions booklet.