The school caters for pupils who are supported by a statement of special educational needs. The main groups are pupils with severe or profound and multiple learning difficulties. Other groups have behavioural, emotional and social difficulties, speech, language and communication needs and multisensory impairment and physical disability, including visual impairment. Approximately one-half of the pupils are White British, with several minority ethnic groups, mainly Bangladeshi or Pakistani. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils eligible for school support through the pupil premium is well above average. (The pupil premium is additional funding for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and those pupils who are looked after by the local authority.) All pupils come from Oldham and the majority are transported to and from school. Children attend the Nursery provision on a part-time basis and full-time from Reception onwards. The headteacher and Chair of the Governing Body have been in post since the previous inspection. The Chair of the Governing Body is a National Leader of Governance (NLG). The headteacher is a National Leader of Education (NLE). The Chair of the Governors, the headteacher and several other staff are deployed by the local authority to provide a strategic lead and support for other schools. The school is a National Teaching School.