56%
GCSE 9–4 · 2024/25
35%
GCSE 5+ · 2024/25
41.0
Attainment 8 · 2024/25
55%
EBacc entry · 2024/25
672.5
EBacc APS · 2024/25
984
Pupils · 2024/25
54%
EAL · 2024/25
25%
Persistent abs. · 2024/25
Ofsted inspection
Good
Ofsted inspection · 14/12/2022
Inadequate
Requires improvement
Good
Outstanding
Local authorityBlackburn with Darwen
PhaseSecondary
School typeAcademy
Pupil : teacher ratio17.2:1
AdmissionsNon-selective
Religious characterNone
StatusOpen
Overview of Blackburn Central High School · Secondary · Blackburn with Darwen
Part ofOAK LEARNING PARTNERSHIP
How does this school perform?
Key Stage 4 · 2024/25 · trend since 2021/22
GCSE 9–4 incl. Eng & maths
56%
-2pp
64%59%54%
'22'23'24'25
'25 · 56%
GCSE 5+ incl. Eng & maths
35%
-2pp
40%37%34%
'22'23'24'25
'25 · 35%
Attainment 8
41.0
-0.2
44.442.540.5
'22'23'24'25
'25 · 41.0
EBacc entry
55%
+2pp
57%55%54%
'22'23'24'25
'25 · 55%
EBacc APS
672.5
+20.1
697.2668.7640.3
'22'23'24'25
'25 · 672.5
Pupils & context
2024/25
Pupils on roll
984
Pupil : teacher ratio
17.2
Workforce data · 2025/26
EAL
54%
FSM eligible
41%
SEN
23%
Overall absence
8%
Persistent absence
25%
Contact
Address
Haslingden Road, Blackburn, BB2 3HJ
Local authority
Blackburn with Darwen
Website
Telephone
Email
—
History
All years · Historical DfE data by academic year
Secondary — Key Stage 4
GCSE attainment and Progress 8 — how pupils progressed from KS2 to KS4.
| Year | GCSE 9–4 | GCSE 5+ | Attainment 8 | Progress 8 | EBacc entry | EBacc APS | EBacc lang entry | Cohort |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | 56% | 35% | 41.0 | Not applicable | 55% | 672.5 | 55% | 984 |
| 2023/24 | 58% | 37% | 41.2 | -0.20 | 54% | 652.5 | 56% | 960 |
| 2022/23 | 54% | 34% | 40.5 | -0.48 | 54% | 640.3 | 55% | 921 |
| 2021/22 | 64% | 40% | 44.4 | -0.04 | 57% | 697.2 | 59% | 900 |
Pupils & absence
| Year | Pupils | Pupil:teacher | SEN | EAL | FSM ever | Absence | Persistent absence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | 984 | 16.6 | 23% | 54% | 41% | 8% | 25% |
| 2023/24 | 960 | 15.1 | 22% | 53% | 39% | 10% | 33% |
| 2022/23 | 921 | 14.7 | 23% | 51% | 38% | 11% | 38% |
| 2021/22 | 900 | 13.5 | 20% | 55% | 37% | 9% | 34% |
| 2020/21 | 908 | 15.2 | 16% | 57% | 36% | — | — |
School performance data © Crown copyright. Source: Department for Education.