Middlecott is smaller than the average-sized secondary school. It is a non-selective school within a selective authority and a large proportion of the most able students in the area attend local grammar schools. Most students are of White British heritage. The proportion from minority ethnic backgrounds is below average. An average proportion of students speak English as an additional language. The proportion of disabled students and those who have special educational needs supported at school action is above average. The proportion supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is broadly average. The proportion of students eligible for support through the pupil premium is broadly average. This additional funding supports students in the care of the local authority and those known to be entitled to free school meals. Occasionally, the school makes use of alternative provision at the local authority’s First Steps referral unit. Currently, only a very small proportion of students attend this provision. No other alternative provision is used by the school. Since the last inspection there has been a significant degree of instability at senior management level and the school has had a number of interim headteachers in a short period of time. The current headteacher took up a permanent post in April 2013. The school does not meet the government’s current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for students’ attainment and progress.