Silver Birch School, Burnley
Silver Birch School is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Burnley.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Silver Birch School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Silver Birch School are Compass Community School Lancashire (0.3 miles, Good); Ridgewood Community High School (0.7 miles, Good); Holly Grove School (1.3 miles, Outstanding); and Pendle Community High School & College (2.3 miles, Outstanding).
Compass Community School LancashireRidgewood Community High SchoolHolly Grove SchoolPendle Community High School & College
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Brierfield Rail Station, about 1.5 miles away in a straight line.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Moorview Close (opposite), 30 metres away.
Source: NaPTAN (Department for Transport)
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's October 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Silver Birch School is well-positioned to support pupils with additional needs through a personalised curriculum, experienced staff, and small class sizes with strong supervision (eight pupils per classroom). The school has invested significantly in quality learning resources and evidence-based teaching practices. Parents can be confident that safeguarding is taken seriously with clear policies, regular staff training, and effective systems for recording and responding to concerns.
Key Strengths
- Comprehensive, personalised curriculum tailored to each pupil's individual needs and interests
- Well-resourced classrooms with evidence-based teaching materials and commercial schemes
- Experienced staff with strong expertise in supporting pupils with additional needs
- Clear safeguarding and behaviour policies with rigorous procedures and regular staff training
- Strong focus on practical skills, careers guidance and preparing pupils for adult life
Areas for Improvement
- A small number of subjects are still finalising resource development
- Resources will need to be adapted once specific pupil needs are confirmed
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is likely to be effective with a comprehensive policy reflecting current statutory guidance, rigorous procedures for identifying and responding to concerns, and regular staff training on safeguarding practice.
Extracurricular Activities
Educational trips and visits, visits to local colleges and workplaces, careers programme
Silver Birch School is a proposed new independent school for pupils with education, health and care plans. The school is likely to meet all independent school standards when it opens.
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 Silver Birch School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 6
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 6 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
2 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
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
-%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Silver Birch School is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
0
Total Pupils
0
Boys
0
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Silver Birch School
Showing 10 of 13 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Silver Birch School
Does Silver Birch School have specialist SEN provision?
Silver Birch School is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
How do I apply to Silver Birch School?
Silver Birch 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 Silver Birch School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 6 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 2 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 Silver Birch School?
Silver Birch School is at Briercliffe Road, Harle Syke, Burnley, Lancashire, BB10 2HA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)