Blackburn with Darwen
Blackburn Central High School
GCSE results 2026: every Blackburn with Darwen school ranked · how England did
Dependable results for a comprehensive intake; the journey is the main thing to weigh.
What the data says
Published data, read plainly. It tells you what to check next; it does not guarantee a place or replace your local authority’s admissions guidance.
Attainment 8 of 41.0 is below the national average of around 46. Compare with progress data, which may show a different picture.
- 41.0
- Attainment 8
- 37%
- 5+ Eng & Maths
- 2025/2026
- Academic year
Progress is close to average or statistically uncertain because the confidence interval crosses zero. This does not necessarily mean the school adds or detracts from pupil progress.
- -0.20
- Progress 8
- [-0.42, 0.03]
- Confidence interval
Admissions realism depends on your home postcode and the school's published allocation data. Enter your postcode on this page to get a more specific assessment, and always verify the latest policy on the school's official admissions page.
What to do next
- Verify the school's official admissions policy
- Book an open day or school visit
- Add this school to your shortlist and compare with backup options
Starting school in September 2027
- Secondary (Year 7): apply by 31 October 2026; offers on 1 March 2027.
National dates for England. You apply through the council where you live, even for a school in another council.
Applications and offers
National offer day figures that councils report to the Department for Education. These are counts only: they do not show how far away the last child offered a place lived.
Year 7 entry
| Year of entry | Places offered | Put it first | First choices offered | Applications (any preference) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 197 | 150 | 150 (100%) | 346 |
| September 2025 | 202 | 163 | 163 (100%) | 365 |
| September 2024 | 197 | 164 | 151 (92%) | 393 |
| September 2023 | 206 | 143 | 143 (100%) | 310 |
| September 2022 | 203 | 148 | 147 (99%) | 336 |
Source: Department for Education: Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, school-level data, published 18 June 2026. “–” means the figure was not published. The council’s own allocation figures are the official record: check Blackburn with Darwen’s admissions page for cut-off distances, the admission rules and this year’s dates.
Performance over time
Attainment 8 over time
Progress 8 over time(not available 2024/25 or 2025/26)
Historical results
| Year | Pupils | Att8 | P8 | 5+ E&M | 7+ E&M | EBacc % | EBacc APS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/2026 (provisional) | 172 | 41.0 | — | 37.2% | 8.1% | — | — |
| 2024/2025 | 176 | 41.0 | — | 34.7% | — | 55.1% | 3.8 |
| 2023/2024 | 172 | 41.2 | -0.20 | 36.6% | — | 53.5% | 3.8 |
| 2022/2023 | 173 | 40.5 | -0.48 | 34.1% | — | 53.8% | 3.7 |
| 2021/2022 | 173 | 44.4 | -0.04 | — | — | 57.0% | 4.0 |
EBacc figures stop at 2024/2025: the DfE no longer publishes them from 2025/2026.
Nearby and similar schools
Other secondary schools in Blackburn with Darwen for local comparison.
School information
| URN | 146936 |
| Local authority | Blackburn with Darwen |
| Region | North West |
| Phase | Secondary |
| Type | Academy converter |
| Gender of entry | Mixed |
| Age range | 11-16 |
| Headteacher | Headteacher Nicola Power |
| Trust | OAK LEARNING PARTNERSHIP |
| Admissions | Non-selective |
| Religious character | None |
| Postcode | BB2 3HJ |
| Pupils | 984 |
| FSM eligible | 39.3% |
Contact and identifiers
Haslingden Road, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB2 3HJ
www.bchs.co.uk1254505700| DfE number | 4799 |
| UKPRN | 10083595 |
| Opened | 1 Oct 2019 |
| GIAS updated | 11 Mar 2026 |
Data sources and freshness
| Official record updated | 11 Mar 2026 |
| Latest KS4 year | 2025/2026 |
| Latest KS2 year | — |
| Ofsted published | — |
Latest Ofsted inspection
| Quality of education | — |
| Behaviour and attitudes | — |
| Personal development | — |
| Leadership and management | — |
| Safeguarding | — |
| Inspection type | — |
| Category of concern | — |
| Inspection date | — |
| Publication date | — |