Aurora Woodlands School
Woodlands, Holly Tree Close, Darwen, Darwen, BB3 2NGOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Aurora Woodlands School is a special school in Darwen for ages 10 to 19. It is one of the 88 schools in Blackburn with Darwen. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in July 2025.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 15 July 2025, report published 14 September 2025
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 15 July 2025
The school is a calm and welcoming place. Many pupils have experienced periods of unsettled education before enrolling here. They often face numerous barriers when they first arrive as a result. The school unpicks and addresses underlying reasons for these barriers with skill and determination. Pupils learn practical strategies to use if they feel overwhelmed. Pupils respond well to the school's clear routines and high expectations. Staff support them with patience and understanding. Pupils' behaviour and attitude to school improves over time as a result. They develop positive relationships with staff and each other. Pupils view school as a place to learn and have fun. The school is ambitious for pupils. Typically, they achieve well. Most pupils go on to access further education at colleges within their locality after completing compulsory education at the end of Year 11. The support that the school provides for pupils to develop positive mental and physical well-being is exemplary. Pupils benefit from the exceptional range of high- quality activities on offer to them at social times, or if they need a short break from lessons to compose themselves. For example, the school's outdoor wooded area, Highgrove, is utilised well for this and other valuable learning.
What the school should improve
- Pupils' written work is hampered by weaknesses in their knowledge of how to form clear and coherent writing. This sometimes limits their success in English and across other areas of the curriculum. The school should ensure that foundational writing skills receive greater attention so that pupils are better equipped for success across the curriculum.
- The school does not make sure that teachers have all the curricular expertise that they need to support pupils' individual learning needs. When this happens, pupils do not achieve as well as they could. The school should ensure that teachers build the expertise that they need to prepare pupils more effectively for their next stage of education.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
13 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
64 pupils on roll, with places for 64
Schools near Aurora Woodlands School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crosshill Special School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Lower Pastures | 3 miles | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | Not published |
| Eden School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 13.0 |
| Newfield School | 4 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | 0% met the expected standard |
| Meadow View Learning Centre | 5 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | Not published |
School details
- School type
- Other independent special school
- Sector
- Independent
- Age range
- 10 to 19
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Mr Carl Glennon
- Phone
- 01254706600
- Address
- Woodlands, Holly Tree Close, Darwen, Darwen, BB3 2NG
- Local authority
- Blackburn with Darwen
- URN
- 138884
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.