Burnley High School is a mainstream secondary school in Burnley, Lancashire, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 97 of its 579 pupils (16.8%) were getting SEN support and 18 (3.1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 579 pupils
- Ofsted report card (2026)
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Lancashire.
16.8% get SEN support
97 of 579 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
3.1% have an EHC plan
18 of 579 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism33
- Social, emotional and mental health31
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia25
- Moderate learning difficulty7
- Speech, language and communication5
- Visual impairment5
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
- Free school
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 579 (places for 600)
- Headteacher
- Ms Emma Lewis
- Part of
- Education Partnership Trust
- Free school meals
- 41.1% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Lancashire
- School reference (URN)
- 141028
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
Report card, May 2026: Expected standard in 5 of 6 areas
Inspected in May 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- SafeguardingMet
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, June 2022).
Contact and getting there
Byron Street, Burnley, BB12 6NX
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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
- Holdsworth School Independent · Ages 5–18 0.4 miles
- Padiham St Leonard's Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 1.0 mile
- The Rose School Special school · Ages 11–16 1.6 miles
- Barden Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 2.4 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Shuttleworth College Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 25.9%, EHC plans 7.6% 0.2 miles
- Padiham Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 16.1%, EHC plans 4.5% 0.4 miles
- Burnley Lowerhouse Junior School Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 16.7%, EHC plans 1% 0.5 miles
All mainstream schools in Lancashire SEND schools in Lancashire
Questions about Burnley High School
How many pupils at Burnley High School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 97 of the 579 pupils (16.8%) were getting SEN support and 18 (3.1%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Burnley High School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (33 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (31 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (25 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Burnley High School?
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 Burnley High School?
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 Burnley High School?
You can ask for Burnley High School 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 Burnley High School 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 Padiham St Leonard's Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School, about 1.0 mile away.
Where is Burnley High School?
Byron Street, Burnley, BB12 6NX, 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.