How many schools are in Blackburn with Darwen?

Blackburn with Darwen has 89 open schools: 56 primary schools and 12 secondary schools across 9 areas. Data sourced from the Department for Education's Get Information About Schools (GIAS) register.

What areas are covered by Blackburn with Darwen school catchment zones?

Blackburn with Darwen administers catchment areas across 9 areas, including Blackburn, Darwen, BLACKBURN, Bolton, DARWEN and more. Each school's catchment boundary is set by the local authority and reviewed annually as part of the admissions process.

How do school catchment areas work in Blackburn with Darwen?

In Blackburn with Darwen, catchment areas define a geographical zone around each school. Children living within the catchment boundary are given priority in oversubscription criteria. The exact boundary, and the "last distance offered", changes each year based on application volumes. Official catchment maps and admissions policies are published by Blackburn with Darwen council each autumn.

Which schools in Blackburn with Darwen are oversubscribed?

Oversubscription varies by school and year in Blackburn with Darwen. Popular schools typically receive more applications than available places, meaning the "last distance offered" shrinks annually. To check demand for a specific school, consult the Blackburn with Darwen admissions authority's published offer data or the school's own admissions policy.

Blackburn with Darwen School Catchment Areas

Reviewed by the catchment.school editorial team · Last updated 15 March 2026

Blackburn with Darwen is a unitary authority in east Lancashire with 89 state schools – 56 primary and 12 secondary – across eight areas. The borough has an unusually high proportion of faith schools: 44 of its 89 schools apply religious criteria alongside catchment distance in their oversubscription policies, reflecting the area's diverse faith communities.

Demand for places is moderate: 16 of the 83 schools with published capacity data are currently at or above their admission number. Because faith criteria operate across nearly half the schools, families choosing between faith and non-faith options may face very different admissions pathways depending on which schools are listed on their preference form. Of the schools with a current Ofsted inspection, 26 are rated Good or Outstanding.

Catchment boundaries are set by Blackburn with Darwen Council for community schools, and by individual governing bodies or academy trusts for the remaining schools. The council co-ordinates a single admissions round covering all state schools in the authority. Families applying to faith schools should confirm which supplementary forms are required – some faith schools ask for evidence of attendance or baptism on top of the standard local authority application.

89 total 56 primary 12 secondary 9 areas

Based on the latest published capacity data, 16 of the 89 schools in Blackburn with Darwen are at or above their admission number, so catchment distance is decisive at those schools. 44 schools apply faith-based criteria alongside catchment distance. Of the 28 Blackburn with Darwen schools with a current Ofsted rating, 26 are rated Good or Outstanding.