Pupils who attend Great Oaks School have either moderate or severe learning difficulties. Some have additional physical or sensory needs such as a hearing or visual impairment. A growing number of pupils have an autistic spectrum condition. Students in the school’s sixth form tend to have more complex learning difficulties. Pupils are admitted to this school from a number of different settings, including primary and secondary mainstream schools and a primary phase special school. Most pupils and students live in Southampton. A few travel to school from other parts of Hampshire. There are very many more boys than girls at the school. Approximately 15% of pupils come from backgrounds other than White British. Almost all have English as their home language. All pupils and students have statements of special educational needs and the number known to be entitled to receive the pupil premium (which provides funding for children in local authority care, children from service families and pupils known to be eligible for free school meals) is much higher than the national average. A few years ago the school gained specialist status in arts.