Witton Park Academy
| Type | Secondary / Academy converter |
| Age Range | 11-16 |
| Religion | Does not apply |
| Address | Buncer Lane Blackburn Lancashire BB2 6TD |
| Phone | 01254264551 |
| Reference Number | 140879 |
Witton Park Academy is currently facing several challenges that are impacting its performance, particularly in terms of student achievement and consistency in teaching quality. While there are early signs of improvement in some areas, the overall learning experience for pupils remains uneven. Results in national examinations are still below national averages, especially for higher achievers. The school has faced leadership instability, which has contributed to gaps in pupil achievement, but there are ongoing efforts to improve support for disadvantaged students and those with special educational needs. Furthermore, attendance rates remain a concern, particularly for students with additional needs, despite recent efforts to enhance attendance strategies.
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 1312 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 52.21%
Girls: 47.79% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 35.7% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 65.5% |
Class Sizes
| Average size of one teacher classes | 22.9 |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 138 | 119 | 257 |
| 8 | 131 | 135 | 266 |
| 9 | 130 | 132 | 262 |
| 10 | 132 | 128 | 260 |
| 11 | 154 | 113 | 267 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Pakistani | 42.5% |
| White, British | 18% |
| Indian | 11.9% |
| White, Other | 5.9% |
| Asian, Other | 3.5% |
| White & Asian | 3.3% |
| Unclassified | 2.8% |
| African | 2.2% |
| Mixed, Other | 2.1% |
| Caribbean | 0.2% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 0.1% |
| Chinese | 0.1% |
| White & Black (African) | 0.1% |
| Irish | 0.1% |
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Needs attention |
| > Leadership & Governance | Needs attention |
| > Personal Development & Wellbeing | Needs attention |
| > Achievement | Needs attention |
| > Attendance & Behaviour | Needs attention |
| > Curriculum & Teaching | Needs attention |
| > Inclusion | Needs attention |
| Last Report Date | 24 Feb 2026 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 24 Feb 2026 | School inspection |
| 03 Nov 2021 | School inspection |
| 20 Sep 2016 | Full inspection |
| 01 May 2014 | Academy conversion letter |
| 20 Nov 2013 | Full inspection: |
| Previously as Witton Park High School | |
| 20 Nov 2013 | Full inspection: |
| 11 Jan 2012 | Full inspection: |
| 11 Jan 2012 | Full inspection: |
| 30 Jun 2010 | Interim assessment |
| 30 Jun 2010 | Interim assessment |
| 04 Feb 2008 | Curriculum and development visit |
| 04 Feb 2008 | Curriculum and development visit |
| 14 Nov 2006 | Full inspection: |
| 14 Nov 2006 | Full inspection: |
| 10 Jan 2002 | Full inspection |
| 10 Jan 2002 | Full inspection |
Strengths
- Strong safeguarding practices ensure pupils feel safe.
- Staff are beginning to apply new approaches to teaching, particularly in reading.
- Leadership is taking steps to improve accountability and support for pupils with SEND.
- The school has built a caring community where most pupils behave well.
Areas for Improvement
- Curriculum delivery is inconsistent, leading to uneven pupil achievement.
- Some pupils with SEND do not access the curriculum effectively.
- Attendance improvements are slow, particularly for pupils with SEND.
- Behaviour management during social times is inconsistent.
Attainment 8 Score
Attaimenment 8 is a measure of a pupil's average grade across a set of 8 subjects. The 8 subjects which make up Attainment 8 are:
- English
- Maths
- 3 subjects from qualifications that count towards the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), like sciences, language and history
- 3 more GCSE qualifications (including EBacc subjects) or technical awards from a list approved by the Department for Education
Each grade a pupil gets is assigned a point score from 9 (the highest) to 1 (the lowest). These scores are added up, with English and maths counted twice.
| School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|
| 40.3 |
GCSE Results
| Metric | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 36.6% | ||
| 5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4 (or A-C) | 50.8% |
Attainment 8 Score
Note: Exam results were not published in 2021 and 2022 due to the pandemic.
Attaimenment 8 is a measure of a pupil's average grade across a set of 8 subjects. The 8 subjects which make up Attainment 8 are:
Sample
UnlockGCSE Results
Note: Exam results were not published in 2021 and 2022 due to the pandemic.
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| Number of Applications | Number of Offers | |
| First Preference | ||
| Second Preference | 140 | 43 |
| Third Preference | 194 | 24 |
| From another Local Authority | 5 | 1 |
Previous Years
Sample
UnlockDestinations after GCSE's
| Staying in Education | |
| > Further Education | |
| > School Sixth Form | |
| > Sixth Form College | |
| > Other Education | |
| Apprenticeships | |
| Employment | |
| Not in education or employment | |
| Unknown |
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