The Hyndburn Academy

About The Hyndburn Academy

The Hyndburn Academy’s headline Progress 8 score of -0.78 sits well below the Lancashire local authority average of -0.11, a gap that places it firmly in the bottom tier of schools nationally. This means that, on average, pupils here achieve nearly eight-tenths of a grade less per subject across eight GCSEs than students with similar starting points elsewhere. The school ranks 77th out of 90 secondary schools in Lancashire, and within the Hyndburn borough it comes fifth out of six schools. For context, the top-performing school in the LA, Preston Muslim Girls High School, posts a Progress 8 of +1.06. The academy’s Attainment 8 score of 38.1 is also modest, and only 24.2% of pupils achieve a grade 5 or above in English and maths (the basics measure), compared with 52.6% at grade 4 or above. These figures reflect a school that faces significant challenges in lifting academic outcomes for its cohort.

The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 rated it Good overall, with Good marks for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This is a notable turnaround from its previous inspection in 2016, when it was judged Inadequate. Under headteacher Umar Wazir, the school has clearly stabilised, though the exam data suggests the journey is ongoing. The EBacc entry rate is 29.5%, with only 8.4% of pupils achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above, and the EBacc average point score sits at 3.25. Progress in English (-0.73) and maths (-0.82) is similarly below average, and the school’s Progress 8 banding is described as ‘Well below average’. For parents focused on raw academic outcomes, these numbers are sobering, though the Ofsted rating indicates that the school’s leadership and culture are now on a firmer footing than they were a few years ago.

The Hyndburn Academy is a non-selective, mixed secondary for 11- to 16-year-olds with no sixth form. It is oversubscribed: for 2025/26, there were 210 applications for 123 places, with 115 first-preference offers made. The school serves a high-needs population, with 42.3% of pupils eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. Its SEND provisions cover a wide range, including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language challenges, hearing impairment, and autistic spectrum disorder. Facilities include a theatre, science labs, an astro turf pitch, and a sixth form centre (though no sixth form is offered). Sports range from swimming and hockey to cricket and dance, and clubs include choir, Model UN, and Young Enterprise. This is a school that suits families who value a supportive, inclusive environment and a broad enrichment offer, but who are realistic about the academic challenges the school is working to overcome.

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