Darwen Vale High School is a mainstream secondary school in Darwen, Blackburn with Darwen, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 210 of its 1,039 pupils (20.2%) were getting SEN support and 19 (1.8%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 1,039 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Blackburn with Darwen.
20.2% get SEN support
210 of 1,039 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
1.8% have an EHC plan
19 of 1,039 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 health87
- Speech, language and communication41
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia38
- Autism32
- Moderate learning difficulty19
- 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 (sponsored)
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,039 (places for 1,200)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Jessica Giraud
- Part of
- Aldridge Education
- Free school meals
- 31.6% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Blackburn with Darwen
- School reference (URN)
- 141321
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
Rated Good, January 2024
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in January 2024.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Blackburn Road, Darwen, BB3 0AL
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 Cuthbert's Church of England Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 0.6 miles
- Lower Darwen Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.7 miles
- Eden School Special school · Ages 8–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.8 miles
- Crosshill Special School Special school · Ages 5–18 · Ofsted: Good 0.8 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St Edward's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 18.7%, EHC plans 0.5% 0.4 miles
- Blackburn the Redeemer CofE Primary Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 17.5%, EHC plans 2.4% 0.7 miles
- Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 33.3%, EHC plans 5.6% 0.9 miles
All mainstream schools in Blackburn with Darwen SEND schools in Blackburn with Darwen
Questions about Darwen Vale High School
How many pupils at Darwen Vale High School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 210 of the 1,039 pupils (20.2%) 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 Vale High School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (87 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (41 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (38 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Darwen Vale High School?
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 Vale High School?
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 Vale High School?
You can ask for Darwen Vale High School 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 Vale High School 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 0.6 miles away.
Where is Darwen Vale High School?
Blackburn Road, Darwen, BB3 0AL, 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.