The school is a smaller-than-average-sized secondary school. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is higher than average. The proportion of pupils with SEND is below average. The proportion who have an education, health and care plan is above average. Sixty per cent of pupils are White British. A very small number of pupils attend Ethos alternative provision in Kirklees. The school works in partnership with a national leader of education and with a Kirklees learning partner. In recent times the school has undergone substantial turbulence due to the high Inspection report: Newsome High School, 13–14 November 2018 Page 8 of 12 turnover of staff, particularly those in leadership posts. The school provides specially resourced provision currently for 21 pupils who have either physical or hearing impairment.