Islamiyah School, Blackburn
Islamiyah School is an independent school for girls aged 11 to 16 in Blackburn. It has an Islam religious character. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2026, ended in a report card: 5 strong standard and 1 expected standard.
- Ofsted report card
- 5 of 6 areas strong or better
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Islamiyah School in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 12 May 2026 inspection grades Islamiyah School on 6 areas: 5 strong standard and 1 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Achievement - Strong standard. "Pupils, including those who are disadvantaged and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, progress very well through the curriculum."
Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Pupils understand why attendance matters and they attend school with enthusiasm."
Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders take a thoughtful and well-informed approach to understanding what pupils need in order to achieve well at school."
Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Since the previous inspection, there have been many changes to leadership and governance, including the appointment of new leaders, governors and chair of the proprietor body."
Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The school's approach to personal development champions girls to reach for the stars and to strive for their ambitions."
Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "In the past two years, the curriculum has been substantially redesigned."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should make sure that teachers address misconceptions and gaps in pupils' knowledge swiftly and consistently well across the curriculum".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Islamiyah School in its own words
In its own words: "To provide education in an Islamic environment that encourages good discipline, behaviour, tolerance and respect, in order to achieve goals by developing potential, thereby creating role models for the community. We want each student to feel appreciated, happy, and to be able to enjoy their learning through a stimulating environment which celebrates their individuality."
From the headteacher's welcome: "A very warm welcome to Islamiyah Girls’ high School (IGHS). A vibrant school where we aim to provide each and every one of our pupils with an exceptional education shaped by strong teaching, pastoral care and a wide range of leadership and enrichment opportunities."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Islamiyah School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to Islamiyah School are Rawdhatul Uloom Islamic Primary School (0.3 miles, Good); Rawdhatul Ilm Wal Huda (0.5 miles, Good); Jamiatul-Ilm Wal-Huda UK School (0.5 miles, Good); and Al Islah Girls' High School (1.3 miles, Good).
Rawdhatul Uloom Islamic Primary SchoolRawdhatul Ilm Wal HudaJamiatul-Ilm Wal-Huda UK SchoolAl Islah Girls' High School
Who goes there
In 2026, 9 pupils (5.9%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Blackburn Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
16 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Tintern Crescent (by), 270 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Islamiyah School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 5 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since January 2026 for independent schools)
Safeguarding standards met
- AchievementStrong standard
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- InclusionStrong standard
- Leadership and governanceStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
Safeguarding standards: met
Independent school standards
Met all the independent school standards.
- Part 1: quality of educationMet
- Part 2: pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural developmentMet
- Part 3: welfare, health and safetyMet
- Part 4: suitability of staff and proprietorsMet
- Part 5: premises and accommodationMet
- Part 6: information for parentsMet
- Part 7: handling of complaintsMet
- Part 8: leadership and managementMet
Source: Ofsted, non-association independent schools inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at Islamiyah School
Pupils flourish here. Each day, they experience a warm sense of belonging in this tight-knit and friendly school. Pupils describe the school as a place where they enjoy spending time with their friends and a place where they can be themselves. They form respectful, caring relationships with each other and the adults who work with them. This ensures that pupils feel safe and listened to. Pupils benefit from a rich curriculum. They are highly committed to their learning and demonstrate very positive attitudes. Teachers know pupils really well and provide tailored support to pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities and to those who find learning more difficult. This reduces any barriers that these pupils may have. Pupils develop a deep body of knowledge across subjects that supports their high achievement. Pupils' behaviour is excellent. Throughout their time here, pupils develop into polite, well-mannered and articulate young people. They attend school regularly and are actively engaged in lessons. Pupils learn without disruption. Positive relationships underpin everything that happens here. Classrooms are harmonious and purposeful. Bullying is rare and leaders deal with any incidents swiftly and effectively. Beyond their academic studies, pupils benefit from a vibrant programme of clubs, trips and activities, including cultural, artistic and sporting opportunities. Pupils develop as active citizens in their local community, for example through litter-picking, fundraising for a local homelessness charity and performing traditional Islamic songs in a residential home. These experiences help them to develop confidence and engage positively with their community and beyond.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders should make sure that teachers address misconceptions and gaps in pupils' knowledge swiftly and consistently well across the curriculum.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 12 May 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Islamiyah School creates a warm, welcoming environment where pupils flourish academically and personally. The school excels at supporting all learners, including those with additional needs, through expert teaching and wraparound support, resulting in high achievement across the board. Pupils develop into confident, articulate young people with excellent behaviour, strong attendance and secure knowledge that prepares them well for their future.
Key Strengths
- Pupils make very strong progress in reading, writing and mathematics with consistently high GCSE results, particularly among disadvantaged pupils
- Attendance is above national averages and behaviour is excellent, with pupils embodying the school's values of respect and tolerance
- Exceptional support for pupils with special educational needs and those facing barriers to learning, including the 'Going for Gold' wraparound provision
- Strong leadership with a clear vision, ambitious curriculum and excellent staff development opportunities
- Rich personal development programme that builds pupils' confidence, resilience and leadership skills
Areas for Improvement
- Assessment of pupil understanding is not consistent across all subjects - teachers sometimes do not revisit errors thoroughly enough to reshape subsequent learning activities quickly enough
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met with an open and positive culture established where all legal requirements are fulfilled and pupils are made safer and feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Rise club, wellbeing ambassadors, sports ambassadors, prefects, knitting and crochet clubs, spelling bee competitions, charity events, environmental initiatives, Cathedral trips, workshops with visitors from other faiths
Islamiyah School is a girls' secondary school that has achieved a strong standard overall, with pupils making excellent progress across the curriculum and consistently performing above national averages in GCSEs.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Islamiyah School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 35
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 9
- Children hurt
- 16
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 35 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 9 serious and 26 slight.
16 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 10 on foot and 6 in a vehicle or otherwise.
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
57%
Available places
153 pupils
270 places
117 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Blackburn
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Blackburn
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(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
9
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
5.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
153
Total Pupils
0
Boys
153
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Islamiyah School
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Islamiyah School
What are GCSE results like at Islamiyah School?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Islamiyah School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
Does Islamiyah School meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in May 2026, Islamiyah School met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Islamiyah School?
Islamiyah School has around 153 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Islamiyah School?
Islamiyah School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Islamiyah School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 35 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 9 serious and 26 slight. 16 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 10 on foot and 6 in a vehicle or otherwise. 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 Islamiyah School?
Islamiyah School is at Willow Street, Little Harwood, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 5NQ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)