Burscough Priory Academy

About Burscough Priory Academy

Burscough Priory Academy has turned a significant corner. In its most recent Ofsted inspection, the school was rated Good across all categories — a marked improvement from its previous inspection, when it was judged Inadequate overall. That turnaround is backed up by solid academic data. The school’s Progress 8 score stands at 0.23, meaning pupils here achieve nearly a quarter of a grade more per subject than the national average. That’s particularly impressive when you consider the local picture: the average Progress 8 score for Lancashire secondary schools is -0.11, so Burscough pupils are outperforming their peers across the authority by a meaningful margin. The school ranks 4th out of 8 schools in West Lancashire on this measure, placing it in the top half of its immediate area. Nationally, it sits in the 32nd percentile, which puts it comfortably above the median for all schools in England.

Drilling into the detail, the strongest subject area is maths, where the Progress 8 score hits 0.73 — well above average. English, by contrast, is slightly below at -0.08, though the Attainment 8 score of 47.2 suggests most pupils are securing strong GCSE passes overall. The basics measure — the proportion of pupils achieving grade 5 or above in English and maths — is 50.7%, which is a solid benchmark. However, only 6.7% of pupils entered the full EBacc combination, and just 9% achieved it, which is low compared to national trends. The school’s EBacc average point score of 4.12 reflects this narrower curriculum focus. With 707 pupils on roll and a capacity of 770, the school is not yet full, but it is oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, there were 347 applications for 153 places, with 128 first-preference offers made — an oversubscription ratio of 2.27.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, sports hall, gymnasium, and science labs, plus a Sixth Form Centre — though it does not have a sixth form of its own. Clubs include Model UN, Debate, Eco Club, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and sports on offer range from rugby and football to martial arts. SEND provision is extensive, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and speech and language needs, among others. With 15% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a mixed catchment. This is a school that suits families looking for a secondary that has demonstrably improved its standards, offers strong maths outcomes, and provides a wide range of enrichment opportunities — all within a Good-rated environment that is clearly in demand locally.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Burscough Priory Academy

Helpful Guides for Parents