Coal Clough Academy, Burnley

In its own words: "At Coal Clough Academy, each member of staff is committed to providing the best education and opportunities for our students."

From the headteacher's welcome: "At Coal Clough Academy, our vision is to re-engage pupils into education. We work with Key Stages 3 & 4 to ensure that our pupils have a second chance at making education a success. Many of our pupils have found it difficult to be successful in a mainstream school."

Across Lancashire, 87% of families were offered their first-choice secondary school for 2026 entry, and 97% were offered one of the schools they named.

In 2026, families in Lancashire lodged 897 appeals against secondary school offers; 667 reached a hearing and 166 succeeded (24.9% of those heard).

The nearest other state secondary schools to Coal Clough Academy are Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy (1.4 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 40.1); Burnley High School (1.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 38.9); Unity College (1.6 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 38); and Shuttleworth College (1.8 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 38).

Coal Clough Academy is one of 9 schools run by Education Partnership Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 44.7 in 2024/25.

Of the 42 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 19% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 19% to a further education college, 7% to an apprenticeship and 5% into work.

67.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 2.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (82%) and Asian (9%).

In 2026, 72 pupils (50.7%) received SEN support and 6 (4.2%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Burnley Barracks Rail Station, about 540 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).

12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Matthew Street (opposite), 170 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Coal Clough Academy stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 702 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Lancashire (109), as is usual near a town centre.

The primary schools closest to Coal Clough Academy are Burnley Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School (0.2 miles); Cherry Fold Community Primary School (0.4 miles); Christ The King Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy (0.6 miles); and Whittlefield Primary School (0.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.