Blackburn with Darwen
Our Lady and St John RC High School, a Voluntary Academy
Close to home and non-selective, but attainment sits below the national average and the last inspection asked for improvement.
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 37.2 is significantly below the national average. Progress 8 and pupil context may still indicate positive value-added.
- 37.2
- Attainment 8
- 38%
- 5+ Eng & Maths
- 2024/2025
- Academic year
No Progress 8 data is available for this school in the years we hold.
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.
This school has a Roman Catholic religious character. Admissions may prioritise pupils who meet faith criteria. A Supplementary Information Form (SIF) may be required.
Watch-outs
- Faith admissions criteria apply (Roman Catholic). A Supplementary Information Form may be required. Evidence of faith practice may be needed.
What to do next
- Verify the school's official admissions policy
- Download and review the Supplementary Information Form
- Book an open day or school visit
- Add this school to your shortlist and compare with backup options
Admissions and catchment
Council allocation figures
Add a postcode to see where you would sit against past cut-offs.
We have not collected Blackburn with Darwen council’s allocation figures for this school yet. We only show a verdict when we can cite the council’s published figures. Check Blackburn with Darwen’s allocation booklet.
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 | 155 | 106 | 106 (100%) | 195 |
| September 2025 | 144 | 96 | 96 (100%) | 189 |
| September 2024 | 166 | 103 | 101 (98%) | 239 |
| September 2023 | 143 | 108 | 108 (100%) | 241 |
| September 2022 | 169 | 129 | 129 (100%) | 263 |
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
Historical results
| Year | Pupils | Att8 | P8 | 5+ E&M | EBacc % | EBacc APS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/2025 | 178 | 37.2 | — | 37.6% | 32.6% | 3.2 |
| 2023/2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearby and similar schools
Other secondary schools in Blackburn with Darwen for local comparison.
School information
| URN | 150308 |
| Local authority | Blackburn with Darwen |
| Region | North West |
| Phase | Secondary |
| Type | Academy sponsor led |
| Gender of entry | Mixed |
| Age range | 11-16 |
| Headteacher | Michael Wright |
| Trust | ROMERO CATHOLIC ACADEMY TRUST |
| Admissions | Non-selective |
| Religious character | Roman Catholic |
| Postcode | BB1 1PY |
| Latest pupils | 178 |
| FSM eligible | 44.3% |
Contact and identifiers
North Road, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 1PY
View local authority page1254588388| DfE number | 4006 |
| UKPRN | 10093644 |
| Opened | 1 Dec 2023 |
| GIAS updated | 5 Nov 2025 |
Data sources and freshness
| Official record updated | 5 Nov 2025 |
| Latest KS4 year | 2024/2025 |
| Latest KS2 year | — |
| Ofsted published | 6 Jul 2023 |
Latest Ofsted inspection
| Quality of education | Requires improvement |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Requires improvement |
| Personal development | Requires improvement |
| Leadership and management | Requires improvement |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
| Inspection type | Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 3 |
| Category of concern | — |
| Inspection date | 16 May 2023 |
| Publication date | 6 Jul 2023 |