Darwen Aldridge Community Academy, Darwen

In 2026, pupils at Darwen Aldridge Community Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 36.8, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45.2 in Blackburn with Darwen and 47 across England.

21% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 44% in Blackburn with Darwen and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 36.5.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.77: 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 29.6, against 41.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 11.5 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 23 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Art and Design.

For September 2026 entry, 128 families put Darwen Aldridge Community Academy as their first choice and 244 named it as one of their preferences, for 145 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 Darwen Aldridge Community Academy are Aldridge UTC Darwen (0.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 31.7); Darwen Vale High School (1.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 39); Blackburn Central High School (3.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41); and St Bede's Roman Catholic High School, Blackburn (3.2 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 45.4).

Darwen Aldridge Community Academy's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

Darwen Aldridge Community Academy is one of 9 schools run by Aldridge Education, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 39 in 2024/25.

87 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Darwen Aldridge Community Academy (as of September 2025): 75% would recommend the school, 76% say their child is happy there and 59% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (85%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (59%).

Of the 208 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 78% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 47% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

Of the 51 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 49% went on to university or other higher education, 10% to apprenticeships and 20% into work. 7% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

In 2026, 183 pupils (17.7%) received SEN support and 19 (1.8%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Darwen Rail Station, about 390 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).

32 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Key Street (by), 110 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Darwen Aldridge Community Academy stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 4th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Darwen Aldridge Community Academy issued 216 suspensions, 20.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Darwen Aldridge Community Academy are Holy Trinity VC School (0.3 miles); Darwen St Peter's Church of England Primary School (0.3 miles); Darwen Aldridge Sudell Primary (0.3 miles); and St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen (0.4 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.