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Foundation school · Lancashire

Sir John Thursby Community College

  • 11–16Ages
  • 1,121Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • 134996URN

Eastern Avenue, Burnley, BB10 2AT · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Apr 2023 Previous framework

Good
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Personal development
  • Leadership and management
What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
1.9per place
0.7 below Lancashire median (2.5)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in LancashireSelective

413 applications for 223 places · 68th of 81 in Lancashire
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
40.3of 90
63rd of 81 in Lancashire
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Overall effectiveness: Good · 25 April 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
AreaOutstandingGoodRequires improvementInadequate
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood

Inspection history

  1. 25 April 2023
    Graded inspection: Good
  2. 22 January 2020
    Ungraded inspection: School remains Good (Concerns)

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry
1.9applications per place, Year 7
0.7 below Lancashire median (2.5) 0.4 below England median (2.2)

413 applications · 223 places offered · 199 named it first

HistoryEarlier years not shown: formed from, or split from, other schools.

  1. 2026 1.9; Lancashire median median 2.6
  2. 2025 2.3; Lancashire median median 2.7
  3. 2024 2.3; Lancashire median median 2.6
  4. 2023 1.9; Lancashire median median 2.6
  5. 2022 2.0; Lancashire median median 2.5
  6. 2021 1.9; Lancashire median median 2.6
  7. 2020 2.1; Lancashire median median 2.8
  8. 2019 2.0; Lancashire median median 2.7
  9. 2018 1.8; Lancashire median median 2.6
  10. 2017 1.5; Lancashire median median 2.7
  11. 2016 1.5; Lancashire median median 2.7
  12. 2015 1.7; Lancashire median median 2.7
  13. 2014 1.7; Lancashire median median 2.6
More applications per place than the Lancashire median in 0 of 13 years.
  • This school
  • Lancashire median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20262234131.91990.89
Sep 20252224992.32431.09
Sep 20242235022.32411.08
Sep 20232264381.92020.89
Sep 20222224452.02140.96
Sep 20212214281.91750.79
Sep 20202234752.12120.95
Sep 20192234432.01840.83
Sep 20182203991.81930.88
Sep 20172243381.51770.79
Sep 20162253391.51760.78
Sep 20152073521.71730.84
Sep 20142093551.71930.92

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

219 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)40.363rd of 81 in Lancashire
Grade 5 or above in English and maths29%69th of 81 in Lancashire
Grade 4 or above in English and maths55%
  • This school
  • Lancashire median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.29
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)21940.329%55%–
2024/2521741.031%51%–
2023/2422537.528%51%−0.29
2022/2322441.333%52%−0.14

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type
Foundation school
Phase
Secondary
URN · DfE number
134996 · 888/4803
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Capacity
1,125 pupils · 1,121 on roll
Free school meals
43.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 August 2006
Address
Eastern Avenue, Burnley, BB10 2AT
Local authority
Lancashire · Burnley

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources