It was the first school in Britain to be condemned as "failing" by OFSTED shortly after the organisation's creation in 1992, but within five years had been transformed to a "successful and over-subscribed school" — a remarkable turnaround that saw head teacher Geoff Hampton knighted for his services to education. Sir Geoff has since departed for a Professor's role at University of Wolverhampton. The last headteacher of the school was Mr R. Davis.