Unity College

Secondary
Local authority maintained
Ages 11 to 16

Ofsted: Requires improvement

Townley Holmes, Burnley, BB11 3DFOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Unity College is a secondary school in Burnley for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 692 schools in Lancashire. It ranks 4th of 5 secondary schools in Burnley. Its latest Ofsted rating is Requires improvement, from an inspection in February 2024.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 20 February 2024, report published 19 March 2024

Overall effectiveness: Requires improvement
Quality of education: Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes: Requires improvement
Personal development: Requires improvement
Leadership and management: Requires improvement
Safeguarding: Met

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)

Exam results

GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25

276 pupils in the year group

Attainment 8 score40.3

40.3, 5.8 below the England average of 46.1.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths34.4%

34.4%, 11 percentage points below the England average of 45.4%.

Grade 4 or above in English and maths53.6%

53.6%, 11.2 percentage points below the England average of 64.8%.

Pupils entering the EBacc26.8%

26.8%, 13.7 percentage points below the England average of 40.5%.

EBacc average point score3.43

3.43, 0.66 below the England average of 4.09.

Pupil numbers and mix

1,402 pupils on roll, with places for 1,500

Eligible for free school meals34.8%

34.8%, 8.3 percentage points above the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language9.6%

9.6%, 12 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support20%

20%, 5.2 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan2.6%

2.6%, 3.4 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Unity College

School	Distance	Ofsted	Results
Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy	0.8 miles	Report card: Needs attention to expected standard	Attainment 8: 37.6
Olive High	1 mile	Ofsted: Outstanding	Attainment 8: 50.2
Olive High Boys	1 mile	Ofsted: Outstanding	Not published
Lincoln House School	1 mile	Ofsted: Good	Not published
Sir John Thursby Community College	1 mile	Ofsted: Good	Attainment 8: 41.0

School details

School type: Foundation school
Sector: Local authority maintained
Age range: 11 to 16
Gender: Mixed
Sixth form: No
Headteacher: Ms Jane Richardson
Phone: 01282683010
Website: unity-college.com (opens in a new tab)
Address: Townley Holmes, Burnley, BB11 3DF
Local authority: Lancashire
URN: 135003

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.