Crosshill Special School, Darwen
Crosshill Special School is a special school for pupils aged 5 to 18 in Darwen, part of Oak Learning Partnership. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2021.
- Ofsted
- Good (2021)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Crosshill Special School in detail
Crosshill Special School in its own words
In its own words: "Crosshill is a vibrant and forward-thinking community special school that is based in Darwen. All our students have an Education, Health and Care Plan. Our age-range is from primary to post 16."
From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to Crosshill School. We are a diverse, happy community where students learn and develop in a nurturing and safe environment. We have a shared vision of “Prepare and Flourish” and we strive to ensure that all of our students achieve their potential, regardless of their starting points."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Crosshill Special School are Eden School (1.5 miles, Good); Aurora Woodlands School (1.7 miles, Good); Newfield School (2.6 miles, Requires improvement); and Lower Pastures (3.1 miles, Good).
Eden SchoolAurora Woodlands SchoolNewfield SchoolLower Pastures
The trust
Crosshill Special School is one of 9 schools run by Oak Learning Partnership, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 16 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 44% to a further education college.
Who goes there
48.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 31.1% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (55%) and Asian (32%).
Almost every pupil at Crosshill Special School has an education, health and care plan (182 of 183 in 2026). The most common need among them is a moderate learning difficulty.
Crosshill Special School provides for pupils with moderate learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Darwen Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Salisbury Road (opposite), 90 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Crosshill Special School issued 10 suspensions, 5.7 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 5 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its November 2021 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Sixth form.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
48.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
MLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from Crosshill Special School
Making a splash!
28 Sep 2026
Annual health checks
23 Sep 2026
Adapted cycling
21 Apr 2026
Successful shopping trip
30 Mar 2026
Workplace visits
2 Mar 2026
Composers in the making
11 Feb 2026
From Crosshill Special School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Crosshill Special School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Crosshill Special School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Crosshill Special School is in Blackburn with Darwen; for families living there:
Apply to Blackburn with Darwen for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 11
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 9 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt.
3 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Blackburn with Darwen is 24 (the median across 89 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
99%
Near capacity
183 pupils
185 places
2 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Darwen
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Darwen
Across Blackburn with Darwen council
Places available
2,284
Applications
2,116
Got 1st preference
78.9%
Got preferred school
94.1%
All secondary applications across Blackburn with Darwen council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
1
SEN Support
182
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Crosshill Special School provides for pupils with moderate learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
183
Total Pupils
120
Boys
63
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
24
Teachers
7.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,822
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
9.9%
Overall absence
33.3%
Persistent absence
159
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Crosshill Special School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Crosshill Special School
What is Crosshill Special School's Ofsted rating?
Crosshill Special School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2021.
What is the catchment area for Crosshill Special School?
No fixed boundary. When Crosshill Special School is oversubscribed, Blackburn with Darwen allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Crosshill Special School?
Crosshill Special School has around 183 pupils on roll. 48% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Crosshill Special School have specialist SEN provision?
Crosshill Special School provides for pupils with moderate learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Crosshill Special School?
9.9% of sessions were missed at Crosshill Special School in 2024/25. 33.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Crosshill Special School?
Apply through Blackburn with Darwen's coordinated admissions process, naming Crosshill Special School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Crosshill Special School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 9 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt. 3 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Blackburn with Darwen is 24 (the median across 89 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Crosshill Special School?
Crosshill Special School is at Salisbury Road, Darwen, BB3 1HZ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)