Blackfriars is a large community special school, located on two sites, which has been subject to redesignation as a generic special school since its last inspection. It caters for students from 11 to 19 years of age on two sites six miles apart; 103 students aged between 11–16 are based at the Newcastle-under-Lyme site and 85 sixth form students are based at a site in Bucknall, Stokeon-Trent. Although the school is within Staffordshire local authority, its students are also drawn from surrounding local authorities and in particular the majority in the sixth form are from Stoke-onTrent. Students often enter the school part-way during their educational career. The majority who attend the school’s sixth form did not attend the 11–16 provision, being drawn from other special schools in the area and sometimes mainstream schools. Five pupils, who are in Years 5 and 6, also attend the school and are taught alongside Year 7 students. These pupils were already attending the school at the time of its redesignation in 2011. All students have a statement of special educational need, usually for learning difficulties; many have multiple difficulties such as physical and medical needs; behavioural, emotional and social difficulties; sensory needs or autistic spectrum disorders. The very large majority of students are White British with very few from other ethnic backgrounds. A very high proportion of students are eligible for the pupil premium, which is special government funding to give extra support to students who are eligible for free school meals or are in local authority care. Since April 2009 the school has been part of a federation with another special school, The Coppice. The two schools share an executive headteacher and a governing body. The school does not offer any alternative education for its students. The school has numerous prestigious awards and in 2011 became a National Support School. Its executive headteacher is a National Leader in Education. The school provides an outreach support service to local schools for pupils with physical and medical needs.