Ofsted: Good trending_up Popular emoji_events #55 in Lancashire public Top 32% UK

Sir John Thursby Community College

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr Rob Browning

location_onBurnley, BB10 2AT

language Visit Website phone 1282682313

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

1,125

trending_up

Attainment 8

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GCSE Rank

#56 in Lancashire

#2,404 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Sir John Thursby Community College is a Foundation school secondary school in Burnley, serving ages 11-16. Rated Good by Ofsted. Demand is above capacity (1.1×) — apply through your local authority on time.

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School Summary

Sir John Thursby Community College is a foundation school in Burnley, Lancashire, admitting pupils aged 11-16. The school has approximately 1,118 pupils on roll, of whom 40% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 41, placing the school #56 in Lancashire and #2,404 of 3,216 nationally. 30.90% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 11.4% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.1× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 15.7:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 2 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 9.1 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

30.90%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)11.4%

Entering EBacc78.80%

EBacc APS3.84

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.29

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

37.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc74.20%

EBacc APS3.53

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.14

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

41.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc71%

EBacc APS3.84

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.16

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

44.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc59%

EBacc APS4.01

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc68%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.02

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc72%

EBacc APS3.93

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.01

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

40.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc56%

EBacc APS3.6

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

88%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)10%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)90%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)91%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

88%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)10%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

89%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

25 April 2023

Inspection Report

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21 January 2020

Inspection Report

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14 June 2016

Inspection Report

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04 March 2014

Inspection Report

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08 June 2011

Inspection Report

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11 February 2010

Inspection Report

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13 February 2008

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2023-04-25

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2016-06-14

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2014-03-04

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

7.2%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

4.7%(53 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

2pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,118 pupils. During this period, there were 80 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 7.2%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,118	80	7.2%	7.3%	2
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,122	124	11.1%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,119	147	13.1%	7.4%	3
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,117	133	11.9%	7.1%	2
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,131	145	12.8%	8.2%	2
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,121	169	15.1%	6.6%	1
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,125	126	11.2%	6.4%	4
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,123	91	8.1%	5.9%	2
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,115	94	8.4%	4.7%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,120	99	8.8%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,125	102	9.1%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,131	34	3.0%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,129	4	0.4%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,122	31	2.8%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,123	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,123	18	1.6%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,110	30	2.7%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,100	39	3.5%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,095	57	5.2%	3.8%	3
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,099	41	3.7%	3.8%	2
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,074	38	3.5%	3.4%	1
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,060	12	1.1%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,068	27	2.5%	3.7%	1
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,060	11	1.0%	3.0%	1
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,062	18	1.7%	3.3%	1
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,063	21	2.0%	3.1%	1

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Moderate Learning Difficulty 41 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 23 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 14 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 10 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 10 pupils

Visual Impairment 10 pupils

Hearing Impairment 5 pupils

Physical Disability 5 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 2 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

61.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

62.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

8.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree23%

agree31%

disagree23%

strongly disagree23%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree15%

agree31%

disagree46%

strongly disagree8%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree15%

agree46%

disagree31%

strongly disagree8%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree31%

agree38%

disagree15%

strongly disagree8%

don't know8%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree31%

agree31%

disagree31%

strongly disagree8%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree23%

agree38%

disagree23%

strongly disagree8%

don't know8%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree15%

agree85%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree15%

agree46%

disagree38%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree31%

agree23%

disagree31%

strongly disagree8%

don't know8%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes38%

no62%

Top Secondary Schools in Lancashire

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Clitheroe Royal Grammar School

Outstanding

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Inadequate

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Lancaster Girls' Grammar School

Good

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Lancaster Royal Grammar School

Good

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Bishop Rawstorne Church of England Academy

Good

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Broughton High School

Outstanding

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emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Lancashire arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Lancashire

Clitheroe Royal Grammar School

Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School

Lancaster Girls' Grammar School

Lancaster Royal Grammar School

Bishop Rawstorne Church of England Academy

Broughton High School