SchoolScoresBurnley High School
Free school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP TRUST
Byron Street, Burnley, BB12 6NX
01282 681950 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 6 May 2026 , published 22 June 2026.
In short: 1 strong, 5 expected, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
125 pupils in this year group.
30% — 14 points below the Lancashire average, and 16 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 30% | 44% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 38.6 | 45.1 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
91 pupils in this year group.
86% — 4 points below the Lancashire average, and 6 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 86% | 90% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 5% | 12% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | 20% | 13% |
| Further education college | 70% | 48% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 8% | 5% | 3% |
| Work | 2% | 4% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 88% | 86% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Lancashire. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 119 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 126 |
| Of those, offered a place | 113 (90%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 551 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 1.1 · 2026: 1.1
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 2nd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Burnley. Higher than 77% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 40.4% | 26.4%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 5th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Burnley. Higher than 34% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.3% | 2.5%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 3rd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Burnley. Higher than 68% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 16.3% | 13.2%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 4th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Burnley. Higher than 28% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 6.1% | 12.2%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 1st lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Burnley. Lower than 56% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 8.0% | 8.3%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 1st lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Burnley. Lower than 49% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 23.6% | 22.8%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 1st lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Burnley. Lower than 98% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 0.2 | 21.6 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 1st lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Burnley. Lower than 98% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 0.2% | 8.1% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 0.16% | 0.53% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 1st highest of 5 state secondary schools in Burnley. Higher than 61% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 17.3 | 16.7 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 1st highest of 5 state secondary schools in Burnley. Higher than 49% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.8 | 11.6 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 3rd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Burnley. Higher than 57% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 14.7% | 12.5%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby secondary schools
- Shuttleworth College 0.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 39% grade 5+ English and maths
- Lincoln House School 1.7 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2025)
- Olive High Boys 2.2 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024)
- Olive High 2.2 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Outstanding (2025)
- Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy 2.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 3 expected, 3 needs attention · 27% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Burnley High School's Ofsted rating?
Burnley High School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 6 May 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 1 strong, 5 expected, and safeguarding was met.
How did Burnley High School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 30% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 16 points below the England average of 45%.
Is Burnley High School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 126 families put Burnley High School as their first choice for 119 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 113 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 141028.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.