The case studies

Case study 4: northern comprehensive in an affluent area

The fourth case study is of a large secondary school in the north of England. The school serves a market town that during the 1970s and 1980s saw an influx of ‘Green’ and ‘New Age’ activists, alternative practitioners, artists, writers, photographers, and musicians. The town has a lively arts and culture scene, including an arts festival, a vibrant music scene, and a community-owned cinema. The town and surrounding area are popular locations for film and television productions. In addition, the rural location together with excellent rail links to two major cities make the town attractive to commuters. Over 70 per cent of the population are homeowners, and according to the 2021 census, marginally over 46 per cent described their health as very good. The town has a reputation for embracing alternative and eco-friendly lifestyles. It also has the highest number of lesbians per head in the UK. There is a range of independent shops and boutiques in the town, and in recent years it has won the British Market Authority's ‘Best Small Outdoor Market’ and the ‘Great British High Street Award’. In 2021 it was estimated that just over 50 per cent of the population had an HNC qualification, bachelor's degree, master's degree, or PhD.

Two state grammar schools in the local authority offer places based on an eleven-plus examination. In addition, there is an independent selective grammar school in the local authority area. The number of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is below the national average, as is the percentage of students with English as an additional language and the proportion of students eligible for free school meals.

Although there was no specific mention of aspiration in the school's mission statement or its published aims, the aim of the school, as reflected in its mission statement, is to encourage pupils to ‘aim high’, and the role of the school was to generate a secure environment that included parents and the wider community in encouraging pupils’ success.

In the 1999 Ofsted report on the school, the attainment of the pupils was described as in line with national levels at the end of all three key stages. The inspection team also made positive comments about the ethos of the school, describing the climate for learning, including the pupils’ attitudes towards their work and relationships with the teaching staff, as very good.