Our Lady and St John RC High School, a Voluntary Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Blackburn, Blackburn with Darwen, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 135 of its 770 pupils (17.5%) were getting SEN support and 24 (3.1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 770 pupils
- Ofsted: Requires improvement
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Blackburn with Darwen.
17.5% get SEN support
135 of 770 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
3.1% have an EHC plan
24 of 770 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health50
- Speech, language and communication49
- Moderate learning difficulty15
- Physical disability14
- Autism12
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia12
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.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Academy (sponsored)
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 770 (places for 821)
- Headteacher
- Mr Tonino Passarello
- Part of
- Romero Catholic Academy Trust
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 47.7% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Blackburn with Darwen
- School reference (URN)
- 150308
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 Requires improvement, May 2023
Rated Requires improvement at its last graded inspection, in May 2023.
- Quality of educationRequires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
- Personal developmentRequires improvement
- Leadership and managementRequires improvement
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
North Road, Blackburn, BB1 1PY
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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
- Newfield School Special school · Ages 4–19 0.4 miles
- Shadsworth Infant School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 0.4 miles
- St Wilfrid's Church of England Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 1.7 miles
- Oswaldtwistle White Ash School Special school · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 2.0 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St Antony's RC Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 22%, EHC plans 5.9% 0.2 miles
- Shadsworth Junior School Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 42.8%, EHC plans 8.8% 0.4 miles
- Audley Junior School Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 22.4%, EHC plans 3.6% 0.4 miles
All mainstream schools in Blackburn with Darwen SEND schools in Blackburn with Darwen
Questions about Our Lady and St John RC High School, a Voluntary Academy
How many pupils at Our Lady and St John RC High School, a Voluntary Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 135 of the 770 pupils (17.5%) were getting SEN support and 24 (3.1%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Our Lady and St John RC High School, a Voluntary Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (50 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (49 pupils) and moderate learning difficulties (15 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Our Lady and St John RC High School, a Voluntary 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 Our Lady and St John RC High School, a Voluntary 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 Our Lady and St John RC High School, a Voluntary Academy?
You can ask for Our Lady and St John RC High School, a Voluntary 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 Our Lady and St John RC High School, a Voluntary 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 Shadsworth Infant School, about 0.4 miles away.
Where is Our Lady and St John RC High School, a Voluntary Academy?
North Road, Blackburn, BB1 1PY, 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.