Overall Oxbridge
#1,503
6 ranked schools · -589 places vs Eng avg #914 of 1,983
Applications
48
Offers
5
Offer rate10.4%
-12.0 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 22.4%
Schools in Blackburn
Lancashire's second-largest town after Blackpool, Blackburn anchors the unitary authority of Blackburn with Darwen on the southern edge of the Ribble Valley, where the West Pennine Moors rise to the south. Textile production has shaped the town since the mid-thirteenth century, accelerating through the industrial revolution before a sharp post-war decline left the familiar marks of deindustrialisation across mill-town streets. Around 118,000 people live in the town itself today, with the borough extending to Darwen to the south.
Audley and Little Harwood are among the most school-competitive districts for primary places, while Stonyhurst draws families targeting selective and independent school options north of the town centre. Both Mill Hill and Wensley Fold lie further out. Rail services connect Blackburn to Preston in around fifteen minutes on the East Lancashire line, with onward connections to Manchester Victoria.
56
Primary
schools
16
Secondary
schools
2
All-through
schools
2
Post-16
colleges
3
Special
schools
2
Other
schools
of which12sixth forms·47faith·3nurseries84 total
Area Performance
Blackburn schools rank in the top 48% of England
Across 83 primary, secondary and sixth-form schools, state and independent. The average Find My School Inspection Score is 7.52/10, +0.11 vs England.
Find My School Inspection Band
11% Elite
Distribution across all Blackburn schools
EliteExcellentGoodDeveloping
Blackburn vs England distribution
National Rank
Top 48%
Across all ranked Blackburn schools
Top 50%Primaryavg #7,481 of 14,978
Top 44%Secondaryavg #1,691 of 3,862
Top 44%Sixth formavg #1,116 of 2,555
Primary schools: 52 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.2/10
-0.10 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.3/10
Average national rank
#7,481
0 pts vs medianmedian 7,489
top 50% of 14,978
% reaching expected RWM standardstate
64%
+2 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 62%
% reaching higher RWM standardstate
7%
-1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 8%
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.2/10
-0.10 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.3/10
Average national rank
#7,481
0 pts vs medianmedian 7,489
top 50% of 14,978
% reaching expected RWM standardstate
64%
+2 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 62%
% reaching higher RWM standardstate
7%
-1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 8%
Secondary schools: 19 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.7/10
+0.34 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.4/10
Average national rank
#1,691
+6 pts vs medianmedian 1,931
top 44% of 3,862
% achieving grades 9-7 (A*-A)state
47%
-9 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 56%
Attainment 8 score (out of 90)state
48.4
+9.3 vs Eng avgEng avg 39.1
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.7/10
+0.34 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.4/10
Average national rank
#1,691
+6 pts vs medianmedian 1,931
top 44% of 3,862
% achieving grades 9-7 (A*-A)state
47%
-9 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 56%
Attainment 8 score (out of 90)state
48.4
+9.3 vs Eng avgEng avg 39.1
Sixth form schools: 12 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
8.4/10
+0.63 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.7/10
Average national rank
#1,116
+6 pts vs medianmedian 1,278
top 44% of 2,555
% A*-A at A-Level
29%
+4 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 25%
% A*-B at A-Level
53%
+3 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 50%
Average FMS Inspection Score
8.4/10
+0.63 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.7/10
Average national rank
#1,116
+6 pts vs medianmedian 1,278
top 44% of 2,555
% A*-A at A-Level
29%
+4 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 25%
% A*-B at A-Level
53%
+3 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 50%
Oxford
#287
5 ranked schools · -34 places vs Eng avg #253 of 1,197
Applications
28
Offers
0
Offer rate0.0%
-15.1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 15.1%
Cambridge
#983
5 ranked schools · -210 places vs Eng avg #773 of 1,880
Applications
20
Offers
5
Offer rate25.0%
-4.4 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 29.4%
Top 3 Primary Schools
2026
Blackburn
Top 3 Secondary Schools
2026
Blackburn
Top 3 Sixth Forms
2026
Blackburn
Local directory
School profiles in Blackburn
Browse 76 local profile links across primary schools, secondary schools and sixth forms. Each profile brings together admissions context, performance data, inspection history and school details in one place.
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