Sir John Thursby Community College, Burnley

In 2026, pupils at Sir John Thursby Community College averaged an Attainment 8 score of 40.3, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.2 in Lancashire and 47 across England.

29% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 44% in Lancashire and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 41.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.29: pupils made below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 36.4, against 43.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 6.7 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 26 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 199 families put Sir John Thursby Community College as their first choice and 413 named it as one of their preferences, for 223 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 2 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Sir John Thursby Community College are Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy (0.8 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 40.1); Unity College (1.4 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 38); Marsden Heights Community College (1.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41.5); and Pendle Vale College (2.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41.8).

Sir John Thursby Community College's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Of the 225 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 87% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 80% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 0% into work.

43.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 74.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Asian (80%) and White British (7%).

In 2026, 133 pupils (11.9%) received SEN support and 32 (2.9%) 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 Central Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Sir John Thursby Coll (outside), 200 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 186 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Lancashire (109), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Sir John Thursby Community College issued 304 suspensions, 27.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 3 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Sir John Thursby Community College are St James' Lanehead Church of England Primary School (0.4 miles); Heasandford Primary School (0.5 miles); St John the Baptist RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy (0.7 miles); and Casterton Primary Academy (0.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.