Holdsworth School, Burnley
Holdsworth School is a special school for pupils aged 5 to 18 in Burnley.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Holdsworth School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Holdsworth School are Broadfield Specialist School (1.4 miles, Outstanding); The Rose School (1.4 miles, Requires improvement); Holly Grove School (2 miles, Outstanding); and Ridgewood Community High School (2.7 miles, Good).
Broadfield Specialist SchoolThe Rose SchoolHolly Grove SchoolRidgewood Community High School
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Rose Grove Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Anglesey Avenue (adjacent), 80 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Holdsworth School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 177 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Lancashire (109), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 5 months agoOverall
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Holdsworth School is designed specifically for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, offering a carefully planned curriculum taught in small groups with strong adult support. The school places wellbeing at its heart, with staff trained in trauma-informed approaches to help every child thrive. Leaders have created a positive, ambitious environment with robust safeguarding, clear behaviour expectations, and a focus on developing independence and preparing pupils for their futures.
Key Strengths
- Well-structured curriculum with clear sequencing of knowledge and appropriate qualifications
- Small group teaching with dedicated support from teachers and teaching assistants
- Comprehensive safeguarding arrangements with effective training and clear reporting systems
- Trauma-informed approach to supporting pupils' wellbeing and development
- Strong leadership with secure oversight and well-planned monitoring systems
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is effective - the proprietor has established a culture of safeguarding with a qualified designated safeguarding lead, comprehensive staff training, clear reporting systems, and partnerships with external agencies to support pupils.
Extracurricular Activities
Visits to local churches, drop down days for cultural and curriculum enrichment
Holdsworth School is a proposed independent school for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The inspection found the school is likely to meet all independent school standards if registered.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Holdsworth School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 9
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 9 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 0 serious and 8 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
4 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Lancashire is 12 (the median across 707 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
Area Demand Pressure - Burnley
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Burnley
Across Lancashire council
Places available
14,702
Applications
13,782
Got 1st preference
87.1%
Got preferred school
97.2%
All secondary applications across Lancashire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History
Special educational needs provision
Holdsworth School is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
Source: Get Information about Schools (GIAS), Department for Education.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Holdsworth School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Holdsworth School
Does Holdsworth School have specialist SEN provision?
Holdsworth School is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
How do I apply to Holdsworth School?
Holdsworth School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Holdsworth School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 9 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 0 serious and 8 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 4 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Lancashire is 12 (the median across 707 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Holdsworth School?
Holdsworth School is at Park Hill, Padiham Road, Burnley, Lancashire, BB12 6TG.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)