Darwen Aldridge Enterprise Studio officially opened in September 2013. The school was temporarily based at Darwen Aldridge Community Academy whilst refurbishment and extensions works were carried out at a former model lodging house that would eventually become the it’s permanent residence.

The former model lodging house underwent a significant refurbishment (with a high level of sensitivity for maintaining many of it’s original architectural features), the demolition of the rear extension and the creation of a new, three-storey extension block in its place.

The school itself is a new type of school that caters to 300 14 – 19 year olds of all abilities and focuses on professional learning, work experience and life skills. It offer GCSEs and A Levels with a focus on creative digital and business related subjects. As well as traditional education the school sends all students on weekly professional work placements.