Witton Park Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Blackburn, Blackburn with Darwen, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 174 of its 1,243 pupils (14%) were getting SEN support and 21 (1.7%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 1,243 pupils
- Ofsted report card (2026)
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Blackburn with Darwen.
14% get SEN support
174 of 1,243 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
1.7% have an EHC plan
21 of 1,243 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 health68
- Moderate learning difficulty48
- Speech, language and communication42
- Autism16
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia12
- Visual impairment5
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
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,243 (places for 1,230)
- Headteacher
- Mr Martin Knowles
- Part of
- Achievement Through Collaboration Trust
- Free school meals
- 41.8% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Blackburn with Darwen
- School reference (URN)
- 140879
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
Report card, February 2026: Needs attention in every area
Inspected in February 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionNeeds attention
- Curriculum and teachingNeeds attention
- AchievementNeeds attention
- Attendance and behaviourNeeds attention
- Personal development and wellbeingNeeds attention
- Leadership and governanceNeeds attention
- SafeguardingMet
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, November 2021).
Contact and getting there
Buncer Lane, Blackburn, BB2 6TD
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
- St Wilfrid's Church of England Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 0.7 miles
- Eden School Special school · Ages 8–16 · Ofsted: Good 1.5 miles
- Newfield School Special school · Ages 4–19 2.2 miles
- Lower Darwen Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 2.4 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Griffin Park Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 19.4%, EHC plans 2.6% 0.3 miles
- St Peter's Roman Catholic Primary School, Blackburn Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 16.2%, EHC plans 2% 0.4 miles
- Wensley Fold CofE Primary Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 14%, EHC plans 4.1% 0.5 miles
All mainstream schools in Blackburn with Darwen SEND schools in Blackburn with Darwen
Questions about Witton Park Academy
How many pupils at Witton Park Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 174 of the 1,243 pupils (14%) were getting SEN support and 21 (1.7%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Witton Park Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (68 pupils), moderate learning difficulties (48 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (42 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Witton Park 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 Witton Park 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 Witton Park Academy?
You can ask for Witton Park 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 Witton Park 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 Wilfrid's Church of England Academy, about 0.7 miles away.
Where is Witton Park Academy?
Buncer Lane, Blackburn, BB2 6TD, 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.