Aurora Woodlands School is an independent special school in Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen, for children and young people aged 10 to 19.
- Ages 10–19
- 64 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
School details
- Type
- Independent special school
- Ages
- 10 to 19
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 64 (places for 64)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Sarah Gregory
- Opened
- 24 October 2012
- Council
- Blackburn with Darwen
- School reference (URN)
- 138884
How to get a place
4 steps, starting with an EHC plan
- An EHC plan
Places at schools like this usually come through an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. If your child doesn’t have one yet, you can ask the council for an assessment yourself.
- Visit and ask questions
See whether the school feels right and whether it can meet your child’s needs. Our list of questions below can help.
- Ask for the school to be named
Tell the council that looks after the plan (often Blackburn with Darwen council) that this is the school you want, and ask them to consult it.
- An offer, and the council’s agreement
As an independent school not approved under Section 41, it doesn’t have to accept a place: the school has to offer one, and the council has to agree to name it in the plan.
Questions to ask when you visit
8 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them on the day.
Ofsted
Rated Good, July 2025
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in July 2025.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Independent school standards: all standards met.
Contact and getting there
Woodlands, Holly Tree Close, Lancashire, BB3 2NG
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
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The school’s details, how to get a place and the questions to ask, in your inbox.
Other SEND schools nearby
- Crosshill Special School Special school · Ages 5–18 · Ofsted: Good 1.8 miles
- St Cuthbert's Church of England Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 2.0 miles
- Lower Pastures Independent · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted report card (2026) 2.6 miles
All SEND schools in Blackburn with Darwen
By need in Blackburn with Darwen: Moderate learning (3) · Hearing (3)
Questions about Aurora Woodlands School
How do I get a place at Aurora Woodlands School?
There’s no catchment area or application round. Places usually come through an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan: ask the council that looks after the plan to consult Aurora Woodlands School. As an independent school not approved under Section 41, it has to offer a place and the council has to agree to name it.
What ages does Aurora Woodlands School take?
Aged 10 to 19, boys and girls.
What is Aurora Woodlands School’s Ofsted rating?
There’s no overall grade to show. Read the school’s latest inspection report on the Ofsted website.
Where is Aurora Woodlands School?
Woodlands, Holly Tree Close, Lancashire, BB3 2NG, in Blackburn with Darwen.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, 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.