Classpot

Bury Church of England High School

Bury, BL9 0TSSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Requires Improvement
Sep 2023
Progress 8
-0.31
Below average
−20+2
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
140 1st-choice / 158 places
Ranking
#2,262
of 3,141 nationally

About Bury Church of England High School

Bury Church of England High School’s headline Progress 8 score of -0.31 places it significantly below the Bury local authority average of -0.02 for secondary schools, a gap of nearly three-tenths of a grade per subject. This ranks the school 11th out of 14 schools in the borough, putting it in the bottom half locally and in the bottom 50% nationally. The school’s Progress 8 banding is officially classed as “Below average,” and its Attainment 8 score of 46 is modest. While the school is oversubscribed — 449 applications for 158 places in 2025/26, with 140 first-preference applications — this popularity may reflect its Church of England character and community ties rather than headline academic performance. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated it Requires Improvement overall, a downgrade from its previous Good rating in 2011. However, inspectors noted that behaviour and attitudes, as well as personal development, remain Good, suggesting the school retains strengths in pastoral care and pupil conduct even as leadership and management and the quality of education need improvement.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterChurch of England
AddressHaslam Brow, Bury, Bury, BL9 0TS
HeadteacherJon-Paul Craig
Local AuthorityBury
Number of Pupils827
Free School Meals (FSM)21.4%
School Capacity827 / 810 (102% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

13 Sept 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Requires improvement

Source: Ofsted, 19 Oct 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

11
Tennis CourtsSixth Form CentreSports HallGymnasiumLibraryICT SuitePlaying FieldsMusic RoomsTheatreArt StudiosChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

14

Sports

NetballCricketMartial ArtsRugbySwimmingHockeyCross CountryRowingBadminton

Clubs & Activities

DebateOrchestraArt ClubCodingDuke of Edinburgh

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:40 – 15:10

Source: burychurch.bury.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Bury Church of England High School

Bury Church of England High School has been rated "Requires Improvement" by Ofsted. This means the school is not yet good, but inspectors believe it can improve with the right support and changes.