Darwen Aldridge Community Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Darwen, Blackburn with Darwen, for children and young people aged 11 to 19. In January 2026, 183 of its 1,036 pupils (17.7%) were getting SEN support and 19 (1.8%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–19
- 1,036 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Blackburn with Darwen.
17.7% get SEN support
183 of 1,036 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
1.8% have an EHC plan
19 of 1,036 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health67
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia42
- Speech, language and communication37
- Moderate learning difficulty26
- Autism18
- Physical disability6
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Academy (sponsored)
- Ages
- 11 to 19
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,036 (places for 1,600)
- Headteacher
- Mr Allan Glover (Principal)
- Part of
- Aldridge Education
- Free school meals
- 36.2% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Blackburn with Darwen
- School reference (URN)
- 135580
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Blackburn with Darwen council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Graded by area, May 2025
Inspected in May 2025. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationRequires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Sudell Road, Darwen, BB3 3HD
Loading the map…
Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Crosshill Special School Special school · Ages 5–18 · Ofsted: Good 0.9 miles
- Aurora Woodlands School Independent · Ages 10–19 · Ofsted: Good 1.0 mile
- St Cuthbert's Church of England Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 1.1 miles
- Lower Darwen Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.7 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Holy Trinity VC School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 26.9%, EHC plans 10.1% 0.2 miles
- Aldridge UTC Darwen Secondary · Ages 13–19 · SEN support 30.2%, EHC plans 6.9% 0.3 miles
- St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 18.8%, EHC plans 4.8% 0.3 miles
All mainstream schools in Blackburn with Darwen SEND schools in Blackburn with Darwen
Questions about Darwen Aldridge Community Academy
How many pupils at Darwen Aldridge Community Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 183 of the 1,036 pupils (17.7%) were getting SEN support and 19 (1.8%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Darwen Aldridge Community Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (67 pupils), dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (42 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (37 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Darwen Aldridge Community Academy?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Darwen Aldridge Community Academy?
Through Blackburn with Darwen council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Darwen Aldridge Community Academy?
You can ask for Darwen Aldridge Community Academy to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Darwen Aldridge Community Academy have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is St Cuthbert's Church of England Primary School, about 1.1 miles away.
Where is Darwen Aldridge Community Academy?
Sudell Road, Darwen, BB3 3HD, in Blackburn with Darwen.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.