Unity College, Burnley

Ofsted's report card from its 15 September 2026 inspection grades Unity College on 6 areas: 2 expected standard and 4 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders' appropriate and timely actions to improve the school since the previous inspection have had a considerable, positive impact on pupils' academic and wider development."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "While carefully considering the challenges that young people may face in the local community, leaders have designed a personal development programme that meets pupils' needs and raises their aspirations."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Remaining disparities in the quality of teaching, alongside gaps in some pupils' knowledge of basic skills in reading, writing and mathematics, mean that some pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, are unable to build securely on previous learning."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Leaders have secured some improvements to pupils' overall rates of attendance by using a more strategic approach and strengthening relationships with families."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Leaders have designed a suitably ambitious curriculum."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "Leaders have reviewed and improved their systems to identify those pupils who need support."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should maintain their improvements in pupils' rates of attendance, particularly for disadvantaged pupils in key stage 4"; "Leaders should ensure that those pupils without the necessary basic knowledge and skills in reading, writing and mathematics receive appropriate support to overcome gaps in their learning and make stronger progress across the curriculum"; "Leaders should improve further the quality of curriculum delivery and how well teachers use assessment strategies so that pupils acquire, retain and apply the knowledge intended by the curriculum"; "Leaders should strengthen further their systems to identify pupils' additional needs, particularly for those pupils who speak English as an additional language, so that any barriers are accurately identified, ensuring that support is timely, matched to pupils' needs and reviewed regularly".

From the headteacher's welcome: "At Unity College, we are driven by a simple but powerful purpose: to give every child every chance. At Unity College ambition is high, expectations are clear and every student is supported to achieve their true potential. Our community is built on a shared belief that success comes through hard work, strong relationships and a love of learning."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include dance, drama and Duke of Edinburgh.

In 2026, pupils at Unity College averaged an Attainment 8 score of 38, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.2 in Lancashire and 47 across England.

31% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 44% in Lancashire and 47% in England.

That is down from 40.3 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.21: 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 28.3, against 43.4 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 15.1 points.

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

For September 2026 entry, 224 families put Unity College as their first choice and 648 named it as one of their preferences, for 263 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Unity College are Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy (0.8 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 40.1); Sir John Thursby Community College (1.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 40.3); Burnley High School (3.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 38.9); and Marsden Heights Community College (3.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41.5).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Unity College.

Of the 263 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 79% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 76% to a further education college, 5% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

34.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 9.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (81%) and Asian (7%).

In 2026, 280 pupils (20%) received SEN support and 37 (2.6%) 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 Manchester Road Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.

In August 2026, police recorded 366 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Lancashire (109), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Unity College issued 718 suspensions, 50.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 18 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Unity College are Burnley Brunshaw Primary School (0.1 miles); Burnley St Stephen's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School (0.3 miles); Burnley Springfield Community Primary School (0.5 miles); and St Mary's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.