The school is smaller than the average-sized secondary school. The proportion of students who are from minority ethnic backgrounds is low and almost none speak English as an additional language. The proportion of disabled students and those who have special educational needs is average. The proportion of students supported through the pupil premium, which provides additional funding for looked-after children and those known to be eligible for free school meals, is average. Full- and part-time off-site alternative courses are currently provided for 14 students in Years 7 to 10 at Burton College, Chameleon School of Construction, Forest Lodge, Newhall support centre and The Bridge. The school meets the government’s current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for students’ attainment and progress in English and mathematics by the end of Year 11. The school has undergone some turbulence in staffing over the past two years, particularly in mathematics. A new director of mathematics has been appointed for September 2015, together with a second in department. The headteacher has been in post since January 2015. An acting headteacher led the school during the autumn term 2014, following the resignation of the previous headteacher. Since the headteacher’s appointment, the school has received support from the leaders of Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Ashbourne which is part of the Teaching Schools’ Alliance. The school runs a Friday Night Project, which provides a range of activities and social support for young people from age 11 to 19 years in the local community.