The school is much larger than the average-sized secondary school. Gender balance is even in the main school, but there are more girls than boys in the sixth form. About 70% of students are White British, 10% of Asian heritage (mainly Nepalese), 7% of other White heritages (mainly European) and small percentages from several other minority ethnic backgrounds. An above average proportion of students speak English as an additional language, of whom almost none are at an early stage of learning English. A below average proportion of students receive support through the pupil premium, which provides additional government funding for specific groups including looked after children and students known to be eligible for free school meals. The school has very few looked after children. The proportion of disabled students and those with special educational needs supported through school action is below the national average. The proportion of students supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is also below the national average. The most common needs relate to behavioural, emotional and social difficulties, specific and moderate learning difficulties and for those on the autistic spectrum. A very small number of students are eligible for Year 7 catch-up funding, which is for students who did not achieve the expected Level 4 in reading or mathematics at the end of Key Stage 2. The school does not use any alternative, off-site education provision. The school received specialist status as a technology college in September 2005 and in music and provision for gifted and talented students in September 2009. Gifted students are identified by their end of Year 6 standards in English and mathematics and by teachers identifying students with particular aptitude for their subjects. The school meets the government’s current floor standard, which sets the minimum expectations for students’ attainment and progress. The headteacher is a Local Leader of Education. A new sixth form centre is due to open in September 2014.