Schools by area › Blackburn with Darwen › St Wilfrid's Church of England Academy
St Wilfrid's Church of England Academy
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy
Duckworth Street, Blackburn BB2 2JR · saintwilfrids.co.uk · 01254 604000
Overview
- Ofsted
- Remains Good
- Ungraded inspection · Jan 2023
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 50.8
- average Attainment 8 score. Blackburn with Darwen 45.4, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.2
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,483
- 91% of 1,630 places
- Local authority
- Blackburn with Darwen
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 26.9%
- First language not English
- 17.6%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 293 families put the school first and 252 places were offered; 74% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 252 | 293 | 1.2▲ | 74% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 257 | 279 | 1.1▲ | 82% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 257 | 291 | 1.1▲ | 75% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 242 | 282 | 1.2▲ | 72% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 248 | 294 | 1.2▲ | 75% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 50.8, and 53.4% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Blackburn with Darwen it was 45.4, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C- (27 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲50.8 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲53.4% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲71.7% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼8.1% | 40.5% | ||
| ●4.20 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 31.5 | +9.5 |
| Sixth form college | 9.8 | +1.6 |
| Further education | 45.3 | −15.5 |
| Apprenticeship | 2.8 | −0.1 |
| Employment | 2 | 0 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 5.1 | +1.4 |
| Activity not captured | 3.5 | — |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 107 students | C- (27) | Below average -0.53 | |
| 107 students | C- (27) | Below average -0.54 | |
| 11 students | Dist+ (37.9) | Average +0.24 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 91 | C+ (32.4) | -0.03 |
| 2022/23 | 120 | C (29.5) | — |
| 2021/22 | 108 | B (39.8) | — |
| 2018/19 | 110 | C (31.6) | -0.20 |
| 2017/18 | 106 | C (28.4) | -0.23 |
| 2016/17 | 109 | C+ (32.5) | +0.10 |
| 2015/16 | 128 | C (30.5) | +0.12 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 60 | −13.2 |
| Further education | 2.1 | — |
| Apprenticeship | 8.4 | +5.7 |
| Employment | 15.8 | +2.4 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 7.4 | +2 |
| Activity not captured | 6.3 | +0.9 |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 11 January 2023, Ofsted’s outcome for St Wilfrid's Church of England Academy was: School remains Good.
- Outcome
- Remains Good
- Inspected
- 10 Jan 2023
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Nov 2013
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Feb 2018Monitoring visit
Safeguarding Effective Nov 2013Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good May 2011Good
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good
What parents said
82% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (108 replies, to 1 January 2024).
- Recommend
- 82%
- Replies
- 108
- 7% · 1 Jan 2024
based on the 82% who raised concerns
based on the 43% who had a child bullied
based on 21 parents (19%) with SEND