Unity College is a mainstream secondary school in Burnley, Lancashire, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 280 of its 1,402 pupils (20%) were getting SEN support and 37 (2.6%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 1,402 pupils
- Ofsted: Requires improvement
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Lancashire.
20% get SEN support
280 of 1,402 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
2.6% have an EHC plan
37 of 1,402 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health115
- Moderate learning difficulty82
- Autism48
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia24
- Speech, language and communication20
- Visual impairment9
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Foundation school
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,402 (places for 1,500)
- Headteacher
- Ms Jane Richardson
- Free school meals
- 34.8% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Lancashire
- School reference (URN)
- 135003
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Lancashire council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Requires improvement, February 2024
Rated Requires improvement at its last graded inspection, in February 2024.
- Quality of educationRequires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
- Personal developmentRequires improvement
- Leadership and managementRequires improvement
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Townley Holmes, Burnley, BB11 3DF
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Burnley Brunshaw Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.2 miles
- Basnett Street Nursery School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–5 1.3 miles
- Ridgewood Community High School Special school · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Good 1.5 miles
- The Rose School Special school · Ages 11–16 1.7 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Burnley St Stephen's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 23%, EHC plans 1.5% 0.3 miles
- Burnley Springfield Community Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 24.6%, EHC plans 6.9% 0.5 miles
- St Mary's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 18.8%, EHC plans 5.1% 0.7 miles
All mainstream schools in Lancashire SEND schools in Lancashire
Questions about Unity College
How many pupils at Unity College have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 280 of the 1,402 pupils (20%) were getting SEN support and 37 (2.6%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Unity College?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (115 pupils), moderate learning difficulties (82 pupils) and autism (48 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Unity College?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Unity College?
Through Lancashire council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Unity College?
You can ask for Unity College to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Unity College have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Burnley Brunshaw Primary School, about 0.2 miles away.
Where is Unity College?
Townley Holmes, Burnley, BB11 3DF, in Lancashire.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.