Best secondary schools in Burnley (2026)
Burnley has 4 ranked secondary schools with published results. The top-ranked is Unity College, in the top 81% in England. The average Attainment 8 here in 2025 was 39.4, against 46.1 for England. 0 are in England's top 10%, and 0 are rated Outstanding by Ofsted. Burnley has no grammar schools.
| Rank | School | Attainment 8 (2023–2025 average) | Attainment 8 2025 | Trend | Grade 5+ Eng & maths | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Bottom 20% in England |
Unity College Burnley |
39.9 | 40.3 | 34% | Requires improvement | |
2 Bottom 19% in England |
Burnley High School Burnley |
39.6 | 38.6 | 30% | Report card | |
3 Bottom 19% in England |
Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy Burnley · Roman Catholic |
39.8 | 37.6 | 27% | Report card | |
4 Bottom 19% in England |
Sir John Thursby Community College Burnley |
39.9 | 41.0 | 31% | Good |
Other towns in Lancashire
- Accrington
- Bamber Bridge
- Blackburn (Blackburn with Darwen)
- Blackpool
- Chorley
- Colne
- Darwen
- Fulwood
- Lancaster
- Leyland
- Orrell
- Penwortham
- Preston
- Rawtenstall
Also see
Questions
What is the best secondary school in Burnley?
On exam results over the last three years, Unity College is the top-ranked secondary school in Burnley, in the top 81% of schools in England.
How are the schools ranked?
By published Department for Education exam results averaged over three years: for secondary schools, Attainment 8 plus a quarter of the share getting grade 5+ in English and maths; for primary schools, the share reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths plus half the share reaching the higher standard. The order uses the three-year average, so a school can rank above one with a higher single-year result. Schools with fewer than 10 pupils taking the tests are not ranked. Exam results are only part of the picture: visit, read the Ofsted report and check admissions rules, as living nearby does not guarantee a place.