Dozens of schools in Blackburn with Darwen were rated good or outstanding at their last inspection, figures show.

Latest Ofsted data shows that 13 state schools in the area were graded outstanding, and 54 good as of December 31 – 67 of the 76 which had received an inspection by this point.

This was up from 66 in December 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic, when 76 were also rated.

Of the 67 schools in Blackburn with Darwen rated good or higher, four were nurseries, 50 were primary schools, and 10 secondary schools.

There was also one special school and two schools offering alternative provision graded good or outstanding.

Cllr Julie Louise Gunn, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education for Blackburn with Darwen said: "We are ambitious for all our children to attend good and outstanding schools and schools are ambitious to meet the needs of the pupils.

"The council's education team also work hard to support schools on this."

The proportion of schools rated good or outstanding nationally (87%) is the highest since comparable records began in 2010, but varied significantly between local authorities.

Inspectors judge schools on categories including the quality of teaching, personal development and welfare, the effectiveness of the leadership and pupils' achievements.

Schools requiring improvement will be inspected again within 30 months, while those deemed good or outstanding will usually be reviewed again once every four years.

However, the figures show that just 2,400 schools in England were inspected between 2019-20 and 2021-22 as a result of the pandemic – fewer than would be rated in a typical school year.

The Association of School and College Leaders said this was a temporary issue, but warned that the real problem is the inspection system itself.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the ASCL, said: “Schools in disadvantaged communities are more likely to receive negative ratings than those in affluent areas because it is often harder in these areas to recruit the range of staff needed to support pupils who may face significant challenges in their own lives."

He said it is a "vicious circle" where negative Ofsted ratings stigmatise schools and make improvement even more difficult.

He added: "The Government must reform the inspection system so it is more supportive and less punitive, improve education funding and work with the sector to boost teacher recruitment and retention."

Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said: "Ofsted is a bankrupt idea, long discredited by the profession as any sort of arbiter on schools.

"The inspectors are out of touch and the inspections punitive, giving a narrow view of what a school is achieving with its students.

"We are calling on Government to work with us and others to create a new approach to school and college evaluation which is supportive, effective and fair."

The Department for Education said inspections provide an independent and rounded assessment of schools, which are helpful to both teachers and parents.

A spokeswoman added additional funding would enable Ofsted to inspect all schools between summer 2021 and summer 2025 to provide a complete picture of post-pandemic education.

Ofsted declined to comment.

 

Blackburn with Darwen schools rated good:

  • Holy Trinity VC School
  • Darwen Aldridge Enterprise Studio
  • Darwen Aldridge Community Academy
  • St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen
  • Darwen St James’ CE Primary Academy
  • Sudell Primary School
  • Darwen St Peter's Church of England Primary School
  • Avondale Primary School
  • Crosshill Special School
  • Ashleigh Primary School
  • St Edward's Roman Catholic Primary School, Blackburn
  • Darwen, St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy
  • Lower Darwen Primary School
  • St James' Church of England Primary School, Lower Darwen
  • St Stephen's Tockholes CofE Primary School
  • Belthorn Academy Primary School
  • Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Roman Catholic Primary School, Blackburn
  • Eden School
  • Longshaw Nursery School
  • Longshaw Infant School
  • Longshaw Community Junior School
  • Meadowhead Junior School
  • Meadowhead Infant School
  • St Aidan's Primary School - A Church of England Academy
  • St Bede's Roman Catholic High School, Blackburn
  • Shadsworth Junior School
  • St Mary's and St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Blackburn
  • Abbey Village Primary School
  • Audley Junior School
  • Audley Infant School
  • St Luke and St Philips Church of England Primary School
  • St Peter's Roman Catholic Primary School, Blackburn
  • St Antony's RC Primary School
  • St Wilfrid's Church of England Academy
  • Griffin Park Primary School
  • Feniscowles Primary School
  • Brunel Nursery School
  • St Matthew's Church of England Primary School
  • Shadsworth Infant School
  • St Paul's Roman Catholic Primary School, Feniscowles, Blackburn
  • Blackburn St Thomas' Church of England Primary School
  • Witton Park Academy
  • St Anne's Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn
  • Knuzden St Oswald's CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School
  • Ashworth Nursery School
  • St Alban's Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn
  • St Michael With St John CofE Primary School
  • Intack Primary School
  • Daisyfield Primary School
  • Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn
  • St James' Church of England Primary School Blackburn
  • Brookhouse Primary School
  • St Stephen's Church of England Primary School
  • Tauheedul Islam Girls' High School
  • Cedars Primary School
  • Lammack Primary School
  • Holy Souls Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn
  • Roe Lee Park Primary School
  • St Charles' RC School
  • Rishton Methodist Primary School
  • Rishton St Peter and St Paul's Church of England Primary School
  • The Hyndburn Academy
  • Mellor St Mary Church of England Primary School
  • Great Harwood St John's Church of England Primary School
  • Great Harwood Primary School
  • Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Blackburn - rated Good with outstanding features

Blackburn with Darwen schools rated outstanding:

  • Turncroft Nursery School
  • St Cuthbert's Church of England Primary School
  • Hoddlesden St Paul's Church of England Primary School
  • Blackburn the Redeemer CofE Primary
  • Tauheedul Islam Boys' High School
  • St Barnabas and St Paul's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
  • The Olive School Blackburn
  • Pleckgate High School
  • Walmsley CofE Primary School
  • St Gabriel's Church of England Primary School