Since February 2014, at the request of the local authority, the Swale Academies Trust has assumed responsibility for improving the school. The trust has provided leadership and training at all levels. The local authority, the trust and the school are working together so that the school can become an academy and part of the trust. The head of school was appointed to post at the start of this academic year, following two years as deputy head of school. She is supported by an executive headteacher from the trust. The school is a larger-than-average-sized secondary school and has a sixth form. The school has a specialist resource base provision, The Laurel Centre. This is attended Inspection report: The North School, 26–27 September 2017 Page 9 of 12 by 24 pupils with autistic spectrum disorder. It also has on-site alternative provision for a small number of pupils who are at risk of exclusion. A small number of pupils attend alternative provision at Aspire Academy and Goldwyn Plus. The majority of the pupils are of White British heritage. The proportion of pupils who are eligible for pupil premium funding is higher than in other schools nationally. The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities is higher than average. The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website. The school meets the government’s floor standards, which set the minimum standards for pupils’ attainment and progress.