Overall Oxbridge
#808
5 ranked schools · -155 places vs Eng avg #653 of 1,538
Applications
37
Offers
10
Offer rate27.0%
-1.7 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 28.7%
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·3nursery schools84 total
Area Performance
Blackburn schools rank in the top 48% of England
Across 81 primary, secondary and sixth-form schools, state and independent. The average Find My School Inspection Score is 7.46/10, +0.05 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 51%Primaryavg #7,492 of 14,821
Top 42%Secondaryavg #1,590 of 3,803
Top 43%Sixth formavg #1,075 of 2,523
Primary schools: 52 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.2/10
-0.15 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.3/10
Average national rank
#7,492
-1 pts vs medianmedian 7,411
top 51% of 14,821
% 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
-0.15 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.3/10
Average national rank
#7,492
-1 pts vs medianmedian 7,411
top 51% of 14,821
% 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
7.8/10
+0.41 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.4/10
Average national rank
#1,590
+8 pts vs medianmedian 1,902
top 42% of 3,803
% 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
7.8/10
+0.41 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.4/10
Average national rank
#1,590
+8 pts vs medianmedian 1,902
top 42% of 3,803
% 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: 10 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
8.2/10
+0.41 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.7/10
Average national rank
#1,075
+7 pts vs medianmedian 1,262
top 43% of 2,523
% 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
8.2/10
+0.41 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.7/10
Average national rank
#1,075
+7 pts vs medianmedian 1,262
top 43% of 2,523
% 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
#284
7 ranked schools · -22 places vs Eng avg #262 of 1,866
Applications
19
Offers
0
Offer rate0.0%
-16.6 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 16.6%
Cambridge
#808
5 ranked schools · -109 places vs Eng avg #699 of 1,830
Applications
25
Offers
10
Offer rate40.0%
+3.0 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 37.0%
Top 3 Primary Schools
2026
Blackburn town
Top 3 Secondary Schools
2026
Blackburn town
Top 3 Sixth Forms
2026
Blackburn town
Local directory
School profiles in Blackburn
Browse 68 local profile links across primary schools in blackburn town, secondary schools in blackburn town, sixth forms in blackburn town and other schools. Each profile brings together admissions context, performance data, inspection history and school details in one place.
60 nurseries in BlackburnLoading map…
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