Calthorpe is a very large special school in the centre of Birmingham, which caters for pupils who have severe and profound multiple learning difficulties (which the school refers to as ‘complex needs’) and those with autistic spectrum disorder. Numbers on roll have grown considerably in recent years. Around 300 staff members are employed at the school. The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website. Inspection report: Calthorpe Teaching Academy, 28–29 November 2017 Page 11 of 14 The school complies with Department for Education guidance on what academies should publish. Calthorpe converted to become an academy in 2014. The principal took up his post at the beginning of January 2016. When the school was inspected in April 2016, it was judged to require special measures. Since then, it has received three monitoring inspections, including this inspection. Approximately 60% of the pupils are eligible for the pupil premium. The school always has a number of children looked after on roll. Almost three quarters of the pupils are boys. The majority of pupils are from minority ethnic groups. A large percentage of pupils speak English as an additional language. Many pupils do not live in the immediate locality. The vast majority of pupils are transported to and from school by minibus. Approximately 50 minibuses arrive at school each morning and collect pupils in the afternoon. A small group of secondary-aged pupils is based permanently at Waverley School, a local secondary school, along with three members of staff who are employed by Calthorpe.