Schools by area › Blackburn with Darwen › Witton Park Academy
Witton Park Academy
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Academy
Buncer Lane, Blackburn BB2 6TD · witton.atctrust.org.uk · 01254 264551
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Feb 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 40.3
- average Attainment 8 score. Blackburn with Darwen 45.4, England 46
- Demand for places
- 0.3
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,243
- 13 over 1,230 places · 101%
- Local authority
- Blackburn with Darwen
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 41.8%
- First language not English
- 64.4%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 67 families put the school first and 219 places were offered; 100% 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 | 219 | 67 | 0.3 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 221 | 101 | 0.5 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 261 | 113 | 0.4 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 256 | 91 | 0.4 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 241 | 112 | 0.5 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 40.3, and 36.6% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Blackburn with Darwen it was 45.4, and across England 46.
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼40.3 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼36.6% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼57.3% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼32.1% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.49 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 7.4 | −2 |
| Sixth form college | 18.3 | +1.2 |
| Further education | 54.3 | −7.2 |
| Apprenticeship | 1.3 | −0.4 |
| Employment | 3.5 | +1.8 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 11.3 | +5.3 |
| Activity not captured | 3.9 | +1.3 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Witton Park Academy on 24 February 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Needs attention
- Curriculum and teaching: Needs attention
- Achievement: Needs attention
- Attendance and behaviour: Needs attention
- Personal development and well-being: Needs attention
- Leadership and governance: Needs attention
- Inspected
- 24 Feb 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Needs attention |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Needs attention |
| Achievement | Needs attention |
| Attendance and behaviour | Needs attention |
| Personal development and well-being | Needs attention |
| Leadership and governance | Needs attention |
Previously: Remains Good, ungraded inspection, Nov 2021
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Nov 2021Ungraded inspectionRemains Good
Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Sept 2016Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good Safeguarding Effective Nov 2013Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good
What parents said
31% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (48 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 31%
- Positive
- 29%
- Replies
- 48
- 4% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 98% who raised concerns
based on 25 parents (52%) whose child was bullied
based on 8 parents (17%) with SEND