The academy is smaller than most secondary schools. The large majority of students come from White British heritage backgrounds. The proportion of disabled students and those who have special educational needs supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is more than double the national average. The proportion of students supported at school action is above average. The proportion of students eligible for support through the pupil premium (additional funding provided by the government to support pupils known to be eligible for free school meals, children looked after by the local authority and the children of military personnel) is above average. The academy does not meet the government’s current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for students’ attainment and progress. A small number of students attend courses away from the academy on a temporary basis at PitStop. Yewlands Technology College converted to become an academy school on 1 September 2011. When its predecessor school, Yewlands School Technology College, was last inspected by Ofsted, it was judged to be good. In September 2013, an executive headteacher was appointed to the staff of the academy on a long-term basis for two days a week. He is from the Wakefield City Academies Trust and is a National Leader in Education. The Wakefield City Academies Trust will take over as the sponsor of the academy from 1 April 2014, when Yewlands Technology College will join the Trust.