Darwen Vale High School, Darwen

In its own words: "Darwen Vale High School became an Aldridge Academy in 2014. Prior to that the school had a rich history starting life in 1894 as Darwen Grammar school. We retained the awe inspiring façade of the old grammar school when the school received its multi million pound rebuild in 2012."

In 2026, pupils at Darwen Vale High School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 39, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45.2 in Blackburn with Darwen and 47 across England.

28% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 44% in Blackburn with Darwen and 47% in England.

That is down from 43.1 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.29: pupils made 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 29.7, against 45.4 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 15.7 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 18 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Art and Design.

For September 2026 entry, 209 families put Darwen Vale High School as their first choice and 528 named it as one of their preferences, for 233 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 9 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Darwen Vale High School are Aldridge UTC Darwen (1.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 31.7); Darwen Aldridge Community Academy (1.5 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 36.8); Blackburn Central High School (1.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41); and Our Lady and St John RC High School, a Voluntary Academy (1.9 miles, Attainment 8 36.6).

Darwen Vale High School's 2026 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

Darwen Vale High School 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.

Of the 192 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 78% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 67% to a further education college, 5% to an apprenticeship and 5% into work.

3.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 210 pupils (20.2%) 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 1.2 miles away in a straight line.

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Global Way (by), 230 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Darwen Vale High School 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 August 2026, police recorded 138 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 Blackburn with Darwen (289).

In 2024/25, Darwen Vale High School issued 44 suspensions, 4.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Darwen Vale High School are Lower Darwen Primary School (0.3 miles); St Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy (0.6 miles); St James' Church of England Primary School (0.6 miles); and Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn (0.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.