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Sir John Thursby Community College Catchment Area

Reviewed by the catchment.school editorial team · Last updated 15 March 2026

Sir John Thursby Community College is a foundation secondary school in Burnley, Lancashire , serving pupils aged 11-16, with 1118 pupils, and a capacity of 1125 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.

11-16

Age range

1,118

Pupils

1,125

Capacity

99%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2023

Sir John Thursby Community College Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for Sir John Thursby Community College?

The catchment area for Sir John Thursby Community College is the geographic zone Lancashire uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Lancashire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Secondary school places at Sir John Thursby Community College are allocated by Lancashire using ranked oversubscription criteria. Catchment area residence is typically among the highest priorities after looked-after children and siblings, and the boundary is reviewed each year.

Operating near capacity: 99% of places are currently filled. Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

Get an alert if Sir John Thursby Community College goes oversubscribed for 2027 →

The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Lancashire before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.

Find Lancashire catchment area documents →

Sir John Thursby Community College: 1125 places, 99% filled: nearing capacity

Sir John Thursby Community College has a published admission number of 1125 places. 1118 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 99%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 1125, Lancashire's admissions team applies distance-based tiebreakers. Families within the school's historical catchment boundary are well placed, but a boundary check with the council is recommended before applying.

The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 38.7% of pupils at Sir John Thursby Community College are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Lancashire.

To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.

Lancashire publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Lancashire Council school admissions (official) →

Sir John Thursby Community College: School Information

Full address
Eastern Avenue, Burnley, BB10 2AT
Local authority
Lancashire
School type
Foundation school
Phase of education
Secondary
Age range
11-16 years
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Free school meals
38.7% of pupils
DfE URN
134996

Other Secondary Schools in Burnley

If Sir John Thursby Community College is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Burnley are the next closest alternatives.

Nearest secondary schools by distance

These are the secondary schools closest to Sir John Thursby Community College by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.

Frequently Asked Questions: Sir John Thursby Community College

What is the catchment area for Sir John Thursby Community College?

The catchment area for Sir John Thursby Community College is the geographic zone Lancashire uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Lancashire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Is Sir John Thursby Community College oversubscribed?

Sir John Thursby Community College is operating close to its capacity of 1125 places (99% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

What is the admissions policy for Sir John Thursby Community College?

Admission to Sir John Thursby Community College is managed by Lancashire. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.

What age range does Sir John Thursby Community College cover?

Sir John Thursby Community College is a secondary school in Burnley, Lancashire, serving pupils aged 11-16. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

What is the Ofsted rating for Sir John Thursby Community College?

Sir John Thursby Community College was rated Good by Ofsted in 2023. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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