Schools by area › Blackburn with Darwen › Blackburn Central High School
Blackburn Central High School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Academy
Haslingden Road, Blackburn BB2 3HJ · bchs.co.uk · 01254 505700
Overview
- Ofsted
- Remains Good
- Ungraded inspection · Dec 2022
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 41
- average Attainment 8 score. Blackburn with Darwen 45.4, England 46
- Demand for places
- 0.8
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,015
- 115 over 900 places · 113%
- Local authority
- Blackburn with Darwen
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 44%
- First language not English
- 59.3%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 150 families put the school first and 197 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 | 197 | 150 | 0.8 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 202 | 163 | 0.8 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 197 | 164 | 0.8 | 92% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 206 | 143 | 0.7 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 203 | 148 | 0.7 | 99% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 41, and 34.7% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼41 | 46 | ||
| ▼34.7% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼55.7% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲55.1% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.82 | 4.09 |
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 134906)
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 12.8 | −1.1 |
| Sixth form college | 8.1 | −2.3 |
| Further education | 68.6 | +9.1 |
| Other education | 0.6 | −0.6 |
| Employment | 1.2 | −1.1 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 5.2 | −4 |
| Activity not captured | 3.5 | +1.2 |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 14 December 2022, Ofsted’s outcome for Blackburn Central High School was: School remains Good.
- Outcome
- Remains Good
- Inspected
- 13 Dec 2022
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Nov 2012
Earlier inspections
Including inspections of the predecessor school (URN 134906), which Ofsted links to this one.
Before September 2019
Nov 2012Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 134906)
Dec 2009Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 134906)
What parents said
76% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (51 replies, to 4 September 2023).
- Recommend
- 76%
- Replies
- 51
- 6% · 4 Sept 2023
based on the 75% who raised concerns
based on the 47% who had a child bullied
based on 18 parents (35%) with SEND