Burnley High School

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1. 1Looked after and previously looked after children — A looked after child is one in the care of a local authority, or being provided with accommodation by a local authority in the exercise of its social services functions (Section 22(1) of the Children Act 1989). A previously looked after child is one who immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption order, child arrangements order or special guardianship order, and includes children who appear to have been in state care outside England and ceased to be so as a result of being adopted.
2. 2Children on the Parent Group list — Because Burnley High School was created through the Free School process, the Secretary of State granted dispensation to prioritise the admission of children whose parents made a significant contribution to the application, set-up and running of the school, as set out in charity law.
3. 3Siblings — Applications for siblings.
4. 4Children of staff — Children of staff employed at Burnley High School for two or more years at the time the application is made, and/or where the member of staff was recruited to fill a post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage.
5. 5Straight-line distance from home to the school — The straight-line distance between the child’s home address and Burnley High School, with nearer addresses given priority over more distant ones.

If two applications tie: Where there are more applicants than places within any of the first four categories, straight-line distance decides, with nearer addresses taking priority. If the children-of-staff category is oversubscribed and home-to-school distance is equal, the school determines rank order using a random number generator, independently verified. Where this affects twins or other multiple births, the school considers case by case whether it can take the additional child.

The academy is its own admission authority, so these rules are set by the school rather than by Lancashire County Council. It is an 11-16 secondary free school in the Padiham area of Burnley and does not select by gender or ability. Note the second priority, which is unusual: children whose parents helped found the school — the "Parent Group list" — rank above siblings, under a dispensation granted by the Secretary of State when the school was set up. The school will admit 120 students into Year 7 in 2027/28. The school has publicly and legally defined its total size as 600 students and says it will not accept appeals on any ground other than legal ones.

Published by the admission authority. Meeting a criterion never guarantees a place — it sets the order places are offered in. Full detail, other entry points and previous years are on the Admissions tab.