Blackpool Aspire Academy, Blackpool

In its own words: "We are a sponsored academy located on Blackpool Old Road and our new building opened its doors during November 2015. Blackpool Aspire Academy came into existence on Wednesday, 3 rd September, 2014 and has never looked back."

From the headteacher's welcome: "I am proud to be the Headteacher of Aspire, continuing to ensure that our students have access to a high quality education. Blackpool Aspire Academy continues to be a vibrant, exciting and an inspirational place to be in every day."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, badminton, dance, ukulele, guitar, chess, Lego, STEM, film and book club.

In 2026, pupils at Blackpool Aspire Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 37.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 38.7 in Blackpool and 47 across England.

35% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 35% in Blackpool and 47% in England.

That is up from 36.7 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -1.31: pupils made well below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 33.4, against 45.9 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 12.5 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 19 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Physics and Chemistry.

For September 2026 entry, 117 families put Blackpool Aspire Academy as their first choice and 211 named it as one of their preferences, for 141 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Blackpool Aspire Academy are St Mary's Catholic Academy (0.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44.2); Baines School (0.9 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 47.4); Unity Academy Blackpool (1 mile, Good, Attainment 8 27.9); and Hodgson Academy (1.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 49.3).

Blackpool Aspire Academy's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

Blackpool Aspire Academy is one of 10 schools run by Fylde Coast Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 38 in 2024/25.

Of the 163 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 69% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 39% to a further education college, 4% to an apprenticeship and 4% into work.

66.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 9.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (83%) and Mixed (5%).

In 2026, 125 pupils (15.6%) received SEN support and 20 (2.5%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

The nearest railway station is Layton (Lancs) Rail Station, about 980 metres away (roughly a 12-minute walk).

14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Aspire Academy (outside), 120 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 194 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Blackpool (336).

In 2024/25, Blackpool Aspire Academy issued 13 suspensions, 1.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 9 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Blackpool Aspire Academy are Boundary Primary School (0.6 miles), Layton Primary School (0.7 miles), Christ The King Catholic Academy (0.7 miles) and Moor Park Primary School (0.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.