Blackburn with Darwen school admissions

For a September 2027 start, secondary applications close on 31 Oct 2026 and primary applications on 15 Jan 2027. Always confirm details on the council's own admissions page.

How to apply

Apply online through the council where you live, naming several schools in order of preference — including schools in other council areas. Every preference is considered equally against each school's admission criteria, and you're offered the highest-ranked school that can offer you a place.

We haven't yet confirmed the council's admissions page link.

GOV.UK: School admissions

Key dates for September 2027

Secondary applications close	31 Oct 2026	School Admissions Code 2021, para 2.24
Primary (reception) applications close	15 Jan 2027	School Admissions Code 2021, para 2.24
Secondary national offer day	1 Mar 2027	1 March or next working day
Primary national offer day	16 Apr 2027	16 April or next working day

Appeals

The council hasn't published a single appeal date we've confirmed. By law you must have at least 20 school days from the date of your refusal letter.

Source: School Admissions Code and School Admission Appeals Code (Open Government Licence v3.0).

Applications and offers by school, 2026/27

Catchment areas and admission decisions are made by the school's admissions authority (the local council or, for academies and many faith schools, the school or trust). Distances and past figures don't guarantee a place.

Secondary schools (11)

School	Places offered	All applications	First preferences	First preferences offered	Applications per offer
Blackburn Central High School	197	346	150	150	1.8 per offer
Darwen Aldridge Community Academy	145	244	128	128	1.7 per offer
Darwen Vale High School	233	528	209	200	2.3 per offer
Our Lady and St John RC High School, a Voluntary Academy	155	195	106	106	1.3 per offer
Pleckgate High School	265	698	281	218	2.6 per offer
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School	167	551	126	110	3.3 per offer
St Bede's Roman Catholic High School, Blackburn	207	521	262	205	2.5 per offer
St Wilfrid's Church of England Academy	252	884	293	216	3.5 per offer
Tauheedul Islam Boys' High School	115	357	233	114	3.1 per offer
Tauheedul Islam Girls' High School	120	410	250	118	3.4 per offer
Witton Park Academy	219	393	67	67	1.8 per offer

Primary schools (51)

School	Places offered	All applications	First preferences	First preferences offered	Applications per offer
Ashleigh Primary School	34	88	32	32	2.6 per offer
Audley Infant School	69	128	55	55	1.9 per offer
Avondale Primary School	53	80	52	52	1.5 per offer
Blackburn St Thomas' Church of England Primary School	60	129	71	58	2.2 per offer
Blackburn the Redeemer CofE Primary	60	149	60	56	2.5 per offer
Brookhouse Primary School	25	63	20	20	2.5 per offer
Cedars Primary School	52	98	44	44	1.9 per offer
Daisyfield Primary School	30	99	33	24	3.3 per offer
Darwen Aldridge Sudell Primary	29	48	28	28	1.7 per offer
Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy	29	44	28	28	1.5 per offer
Darwen St Peter's Church of England Primary School	27	56	26	26	2.1 per offer
Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy	26	80	21	21	3.1 per offer
Feniscowles Primary School	60	163	69	56	2.7 per offer
Griffin Park Primary School	30	58	28	28	1.9 per offer
Hoddlesden St Paul's Church of England Primary School	29	73	39	29	2.5 per offer
Holy Souls Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn	23	58	17	17	2.5 per offer
Holy Trinity VC School	4	27	4	4	6.8 per offer
Intack Primary School	36	59	30	30	1.6 per offer
Lammack Primary School	90	237	87	71	2.6 per offer
Livesey Saint Francis' Church of England School	24	74	21	21	3.1 per offer
Longshaw Infant School	74	112	70	70	1.5 per offer
Lower Darwen Primary School	44	84	36	36	1.9 per offer
Meadowhead Community Infant School and Nursery	41	64	34	34	1.6 per offer
Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn	26	49	26	26	1.9 per offer
Queen Elizabeth's Primary School	52	127	39	39	2.4 per offer
Roe Lee Park Primary School	45	91	40	40	2.0 per offer
Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn	17	37	10	10	2.2 per offer
Shadsworth Infant School	58	81	49	49	1.4 per offer
St Aidan's Primary School - A Church of England Academy	22	43	17	17	2.0 per offer
St Alban's Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn	19	33	16	16	1.7 per offer
St Anne's Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn	25	47	23	23	1.9 per offer
St Antony's RC Primary School	30	84	42	30	2.8 per offer
St Barnabas and St Paul's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School	60	125	54	50	2.1 per offer
St Cuthbert's Church of England Primary School	7	29	7	7	4.1 per offer
St Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy	13	45	13	13	3.5 per offer
St Gabriel's Church of England Primary School	30	122	36	29	4.1 per offer
St James' Church of England Primary School	30	96	31	28	3.2 per offer
St James' Church of England Primary School Blackburn	45	109	43	43	2.4 per offer
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen	16	41	14	14	2.6 per offer
St Luke and St Philips Church of England Primary School	18	41	16	16	2.3 per offer
St Mary's and St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn	30	106	33	26	3.5 per offer
St Matthew's Church of England Primary School	35	76	30	30	2.2 per offer
St Michael With St John CofE Primary School	30	58	24	24	1.9 per offer
St Paul's Roman Catholic Primary School, Feniscowles, Blackburn	30	93	41	30	3.1 per offer
St Peter's Roman Catholic Primary School, Blackburn	43	79	37	37	1.8 per offer
St Silas's CofE Primary School	21	65	13	13	3.1 per offer
St Stephen's Church of England Primary School	49	76	46	46	1.6 per offer
St Stephen's Tockholes CofE Primary School	3	26	3	3	8.7 per offer
The Olive School, Blackburn	90	288	156	89	3.2 per offer
Turton Belmont Community Primary School	7	16	7	6	2.3 per offer
Wensley Fold CofE Primary Academy	59	193	85	57	3.3 per offer

Source: DfE secondary and primary school applications and offers (Open Government Licence v3.0).

Blackburn with Darwen term dates · Check schools near a postcode

Questions

When is the Blackburn with Darwen secondary school application deadline?

31 October for a September start, set nationally by the School Admissions Code. Late applications are usually considered only after on-time ones.

How long do I have to appeal?

Admission authorities must give you at least 20 school days from the date of your refusal letter (usually offer day). Many councils publish a specific date — use the council's date where shown.

Does this page tell me my chance of getting a place?

No. Places depend on each school's oversubscription criteria, which change every year. Only the admissions authority decides.