School finder
The nearest schools to any postcode in England, with Ofsted grades, ages and pupil numbers. Free
30 nearest schools to BB3 1AF
| School | Type | Ages | Ofsted | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aldridge UTC Darwen 275 pupils | Secondary | 13–19 | Report | 0.0 mi |
| Holy Trinity VC School 119 pupils | Primary | 4–11 | Report | 0.1 mi |
| Darwen Aldridge Community Academy 1,036 pupils | Secondary | 11–19 | Report | 0.3 mi |
| St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen 165 pupils | Primary | 4–11 | Report | 0.4 mi |
| Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy 203 pupils | Primary | 3–11 | Report | 0.5 mi |
| Avondale Primary School 400 pupils | Primary | 4–11 | Report | 0.5 mi |
| Turncroft Nursery School 58 pupils | Nursery | 3–4 | Report | 0.5 mi |
| Darwen Aldridge Sudell Primary 167 pupils | Primary | 4–11 | Good Report | 0.6 mi |
| Darwen St Peter's Church of England Primary School 240 pupils | Primary | 4–11 | Good Report | 0.7 mi |
| Crosshill Special School 183 pupils | Academy special converter | 5–18 | Good Report | 0.7 mi |
| St Cuthbert's Church of England Primary School 184 pupils | Primary | 4–11 | Requires improvement Report | 0.9 mi |
| St Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy 198 pupils | Primary | 4–11 | Report | 1.0 mi |
| Ashleigh Primary School 220 pupils | Primary | 4–11 | Report | 1.1 mi |
| Aurora Woodlands School 64 pupils | Other independent special school | 10–19 | Report | 1.2 mi |
| Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy 207 pupils | Primary | 4–11 | Report | 1.3 mi |
| Darwen Vale High School 1,039 pupils | Secondary | 11–16 | Good Report | 1.4 mi |
| Lower Darwen Primary School 382 pupils | Primary | 4–11 | Good Report | 1.6 mi |
| Hoddlesden St Paul's Church of England Primary School 237 pupils | Primary | 3–11 | Report | 1.6 mi |
| St James' Church of England Primary School 202 pupils | Primary | 4–11 | Report | 1.9 mi |
| St Stephen's Tockholes CofE Primary School 56 pupils | Primary | 4–11 | Report | 2.0 mi |
| Blackburn the Redeemer CofE Primary 416 pupils | Primary | 4–11 | Report | 2.1 mi |
| Eden School 64 pupils | Free schools special | 8–16 | Good Report | 2.1 mi |
| The Heights Blackburn 2 pupils | Free schools alternative provision | 5–16 | Report | 2.1 mi |
| Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn 180 pupils | Primary | 4–11 | Report | 2.1 mi |
| Belthorn Academy Primary School 238 pupils | Primary | 2–11 | Report | 2.2 mi |
| Longshaw Infant School 203 pupils | Primary | 4–7 | Good Report | 2.3 mi |
| Longshaw Nursery School 101 pupils | Nursery | 2–5 | Report | 2.3 mi |
| Lower Pastures 3 pupils | Other independent special school | 11–16 | Report | 2.5 mi |
| Longshaw Community Junior School 334 pupils | Primary | 7–11 | Report | 2.7 mi |
| Markazul Uloom 26 pupils | Other independent school Boys | 11–19 | Report | 2.7 mi |
Source: Department for Education (Get Information about Schools) and Ofsted. Grades are from each school's last graded inspection; newer inspections use report cards without a single grade. Distances are straight-line, and catchment areas are set by the council or school.
House prices and more for BB3 1AF
Choosing a school: what the list can and can't tell you
The finder lists the schools closest to a postcode as the crow flies, with their type, age range, number of pupils and latest Ofsted outcome. It's a good starting point, but distance alone doesn't decide who gets a place.
Catchment areas and admissions. Every school has admission criteria, set by the council for community schools and by the school itself for academies, free schools and faith schools. Most give priority to looked-after children and siblings, then to distance, but some use catchment maps, faith or aptitude. Last year's "furthest distance offered" figure, which most councils publish, is far more useful than a straight-line distance.
Ofsted ratings. Older reports give a single grade from Outstanding to Inadequate. Ofsted has since moved to report cards that grade several areas separately, so a recently inspected school may read differently. Check the date too: a grade from many years ago may not reflect the school today.
Before you buy for a school, check the council's admissions booklet for the year you'll apply, visit on an open day, and look at the school's own website for its results and oversubscription criteria. Homes in sought-after catchments often sell at a premium, so it's worth being sure.