Darwen Aldridge Community Academy, Darwen
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
This is a welcoming, safe community where most pupils behave well and feel respected. The school excels at supporting struggling readers and has particularly strong sixth-form provision where students achieve well. Pupils benefit from a thoughtful personal development programme that prepares them for their futures through careers advice, employer engagement, and work experience opportunities.
Key Strengths
- Strong behaviour and attitudes - most pupils behave well with calm, orderly environment
- Effective support for struggling readers with well-trained staff helping pupils catch up
- Excellent sixth-form provision with consistent curriculum delivery and high student achievement
- Good personal development programme covering finance, relationships, citizenship, and careers guidance
- Safe, tolerant school community where pupils are well-supported
Areas for Improvement
- Some subject curriculums not yet fully embedded - pupils still catching up on knowledge
- Staff do not consistently design appropriate learning activities for all pupils, particularly those with SEND
- Assessment strategies not used consistently enough by staff, especially in key stage 4, to identify and address gaps in knowledge
- Inconsistent curriculum delivery means some pupils do not achieve as well as they should
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with school leaders prioritising pupils' interests and creating a positive culture around safety.
Extracurricular Activities
Football, netball, music, ski trips, university visits, employer visits, community events, charity fundraising, work experience placements
Darwen Aldridge Community Academy is a welcoming secondary school where pupils feel safe and behaviour is generally good. However, the quality of education requires improvement due to inconsistencies in how the curriculum is delivered across subjects.
At a Glance
36.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
87 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Class Sizes
21.0
Avg class size
50
Total classes
7 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
65%
Available places
1,036 pupils
1,600 capacity
564 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Darwen
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Darwen
Admissions Demand - Blackburn with Darwen
Places available
2,291
Applications
2,109
Got 1st preference
82.0%
Got preferred school
95.4%
Secondary admissions across Blackburn with Darwen (2025/26)
Inspection History(7)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
11.13486%
Overall absence
35.71429%
Persistent absence
1,008
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Darwen Aldridge Community Academy
Holy Trinity VC School
Darwen St Peter's Church of England Primary School
Darwen Aldridge Sudell Primary
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen
Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy
Ashleigh Primary School
Avondale Primary School
Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy
St Cuthbert's Church of England Primary School
Hoddlesden St Paul's Church of England Primary School
Showing 10 of 12 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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