St Francis is a larger-than-average special school which caters for pupils with a range of often complex physical, learning and medical needs. A growing proportion have autistic spectrum disorders and/or profound and multiple learning difficulties. Under local authority reorganisation proposals the school will cater for an increased proportion of these pupils from September 2011 and its numbers will gradually increase to approximately 120 pupils. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is high. Almost all pupils are from a White British heritage. The school has boarding provision for up to eighteen students at a time. This provision is used to allow all Key Stage 4 and post-16 students to have access to a part-time residential experience should they and their parents and carers wish it and is occasionally used for younger pupils. The school has specialist school status (physical and sensory) and provides outreach support to mainstream and other special schools linked to this. It has a comm unity nursing team and a range of therapists based in its accommodation. It has recently opened a drama studio and Enterprise House, which has accommodation and resources to support both community and school learning such as a cafe, gardening, information and communication technology (ICT) and hairdressing facilities. The school holds numerous awards.