Red Marsh is a school for pupils and sixth form students with severe learning difficulties, many of whom have additional complex learning and medical needs including autism spectrum conditions, profound and multiple learning difficulties and speech, language and communication needs. Almost all pupils are of White British heritage and only a tiny minority speak English as an additional language. In common with other similar schools, about two-thirds of the pupils are boys. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils who are eligible for additional government funding through the pupil premium is well-above average. The pupil premium is for those pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals and for those who are looked after by the local authority. Sixth-form students in the FE department attend courses at three colleges on one day a week supported by Red Marsh staff. These include Blackpool and the Fylde, Myerscough and Beaumont Colleges. Nursery age children attend early years on a part-time basis. The school is a strategic partner with a specialist teaching school. The school has partnerships with other special and mainstream schools to provide links in and out of Red Marsh for pupils as appropriate. The school provides outreach guidance and advice to other schools on request. The school has obtained and maintained a range of external awards including Investors in People, Leading Parent Partnership, Introductory International School Award and Intermediate School Award from the British Council, Early Years Quality Mark, and Primary Quality Mark. It has completed and is awaiting a further award from the Alliance for Lifelong Learning.