Darwen Aldridge Community Academy

Darwen Aldridge Community Academy (DACA) is a secondary school and sixth form with academy status in the Blackburn with Darwen borough of Lancashire, England. It specialises in entrepreneurship, and is part of the Aldridge Education multi-academy trust.

Darwen Aldridge Community Academy
The academy seen from Redearth Road
Address
Sudell Road

Darwen
,
Lancashire
,
BB3 3HD

England
Coordinates53.694°N 2.464°W / 53.694; -2.464
Information
TypeAcademy
Established2 September 2008 (2008-09-02)
Department for Education URN135580 Tables
OfstedReports
PrincipalLisa Dolan
GenderMixed
Age11 to 19
Enrolment1,400
Capacity1,600
Websitewww.daca.uk.com

History

Darwen Aldridge Communuity Academy replaced Darwen Moorland High School in September 2008, opening on the site of the former school at Holden Fold (53.70423°N 2.45873°W / 53.70423; -2.45873).[1][2] The Academy is sponsored by the Aldridge Foundation, and was officially opened by the Foundation Chairman Sir Rod Aldridge on 16 October 2008. Brendan Loughran was appointed the school's first principal.[3]

The Academy moved to a new purpose built site in September 2010, located in the Redearth area at the centre of Darwen.[4] The new site features a five storey main building, a sports hall, dance studio, cafe, and office spaces for young entrepreneurs.[5][6] It was designed by architecture firm Aedas.[7]

The new school cost an estimated £49 million, with the controversial clearance of houses in the Redearth area, involving the council in a long legal dispute including a hearing by the High Court, and two public inquiries.[8][9] Prince William and Kate Middleton visited the new school to formally open it on 11 April 2011, as part of their final public engagement before their wedding.[10]

GCSE Results

They saw 57% of students achieve five or more GCSEs at an A* to C grade in August 2015, up from 52% the previous year.[11]

Ofsted ratings

In its inspection by Ofsted by in January 2013, the school was rated as "good" overall. The previous inspection in January 2011 had rated the school "satisfactory".[12]

Notable former pupils

Moorland High School
  • Neil Arthur, singer of the 1980s synth band, Blancmange

References
  1. Livesey, Jon (11 July 2008). "Fond farewell to 'really good' Darwen school". This Is Lancashire. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  2. "Darwen Moorland High School". EduBase. Department for Education. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  3. Pye, Catherine (16 October 2008). "Academy sponsor pledges to lift Darwen pupils' aspirations". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  4. "Darwen Aldridge Community Academy". The Aldridge Foundation. Archived from the original on 2 April 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  5. Shan, Nafeesa (5 March 2010). "Darwen Academy project near journey's end". Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  6. "Darwen Creates". daca.uk.com. Darwen Aldridge Community Academy. Archived from the original on 7 January 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  7. "Darwen Academy". Aedas. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  8. Pye, Catherine (30 November 2008). "Darwen Academy work underway as cleared houses row continues". Blackburn Citizen. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  9. Henry, Julie (22 July 2007). "Tony Blair's city academy's £49m record cost". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  10. "Prince William and Kate Middleton visit Lancashire". BBC News Online. 11 April 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  11. "Lancashire youngsters celebrate after schools across the area report record GCSE exam results". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 2015-10-27.
  12. "Darwen Aldridge Community Academy". ofsted.gov.uk. Ofsted. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
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