Darwen Vale High School Catchment Area
Darwen Vale High School is an academy sponsor led secondary school in Darwen, Blackburn with Darwen , serving pupils aged 11-16, with 1071 pupils, and a capacity of 1200 places. Find catchment area guidance, admissions policy details and nearby secondary schools below.
11-16
Age range
1,071
Pupils
1,200
Capacity
89%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2024
Darwen Vale High School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Darwen Vale High School?
The catchment area for Darwen Vale High School is the geographic zone Blackburn with Darwen uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Blackburn with Darwen publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
As an academy, Darwen Vale High School sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Blackburn with Darwen. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Blackburn with Darwen before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Blackburn with Darwen catchment area documents →Darwen Vale High School: 1200 places, 89% filled: places available
Darwen Vale High School has a published admission number of 1200 places. 1071 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 89%. At 89% full, the school currently has headroom below its 1200 place limit. Catchment distance criteria still apply when the school is oversubscribed, but at current demand levels, places have been available for applicants outside the immediate catchment area.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 31.4% of pupils at Darwen Vale High School are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Blackburn with Darwen.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Blackburn with Darwen publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Find Blackburn with Darwen school admissions →
Darwen Vale High School: School Information
- Full address
- Blackburn Road, Darwen, BB3 0AL
- Local authority
- Blackburn with Darwen
- School type
- Academy sponsor led
- Phase of education
- Secondary
- Age range
- 11-16 years
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 31.4% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 141321
Other Secondary Schools in Darwen
If Darwen Vale High School is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Darwen are the next closest alternatives.
Nearest secondary schools by distance
These are the secondary schools closest to Darwen Vale High School by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.
Blackburn Central High School Catchment Area
Academy converter · Blackburn · 1.6 miles away
Our Lady and St John RC High School, a Voluntary Academy Catchment Area
Academy sponsor led · Blackburn · 1.9 miles away
Tauheedul Islam Boys' High School Catchment Area
Free schools · Blackburn · 2.0 miles away
Need help understanding catchment areas?
Frequently Asked Questions: Darwen Vale High School
What is the catchment area for Darwen Vale High School? ▾
The catchment area for Darwen Vale High School is the geographic zone Blackburn with Darwen uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Blackburn with Darwen publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Darwen Vale High School oversubscribed? ▾
Darwen Vale High School has a capacity of 1200 places and currently has 1071 pupils enrolled. For the most up-to-date data, check with Blackburn with Darwen.
What is the admissions policy for Darwen Vale High School? ▾
Admission to Darwen Vale High School is managed by Blackburn with Darwen. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.
What age range does Darwen Vale High School cover? ▾
Darwen Vale High School is a secondary school in Darwen, Blackburn with Darwen, serving pupils aged 11-16. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Darwen Vale High School? ▾
Darwen Vale High School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2024. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.